Home insurance - property unoccupied during the day

Daisies

Hi, we've got buildings & contents insurance with the Co-op. I'm about to switch jobs and will be working part-time (0.6 FTE over 3 days a week) in the new job, whereas I was full-time in my previous job. My husband is full-time. I rang the Co-op to tell them, and the policy has been amended (it's only a few weeks from renewal).

When I come to renew does our house now count as mostly occupied during the day, or still unoccupied? I'll be at home 4 days a week instead of the 2 in my previous job, but I'm not sure if working 3 days a week would mean it still counted as unoccupied. There doesn't seem to be anything in the policy about it, and the customer service lady said no one had rung her before with this query!

*Scarlett

Some of the comparison sites ask if the house is occupied during the day but I would I magine the risk is greater if it is unoccupied at night.

Can you input you details as " housewife" for your occupation and add a secondary occupation for your part-time job?

I can't see this being any issue with the insurance.

If you are thinking that the home being occupied all day will reduce the insurance premiums - I would doubt it would be much but you can check by doing a few quotes online.

carlos100

Well Im flabbergasted , I never knew you had to be in your house 24 hours a day !!
I have never ever been asked anything like that ,
Are you saying that if you go to work you will be penalised on insurance ?
Or am I completly mis-reading this ?

*Scarlett

carlos100 - many insurers will take your occupation into consideration to calculate the risk in calculating your premium. So if you are a "Night Club Owner" you will clearly be a higher risk!

If you are retired, you are more likely to be in the house than if employed so may get a lower premium as it is a lower risk.

Insurers do not penalise people for being at work but some jobs do attract higher premiums than others. So make sure you are inputting the most "economic" job description whilst still being accurate and honest.

Daisies

Thanks for the advice! I'll see what happens with various quotes come renewal time in November!

I suspect as well it's viewed as more risky working full time as most people work predictable hours so it's more likely the house will be unoccupied between, say, 8am and 6pm. Whereas I know my days at home with consist of being at home, but also popping out to the post office, shops or to visit neighbours etc, and varying every day!