Any Recommendations for Unocupied Home Insurance?

bonzer

Hello,

I've bought a house, but am not intending to move into it for several months (maybe 4 - 6). Does anyone have any recommendations for an insurance company that offers unoccupied home insurance? Most standard policies have a 30 day limitation.

I've seen Towergate. Any others I might like to consider? Unoccupied insurance seems to be fairly expensive so I'd like to get several quotes.

I think I'm able to meet most of the usual terms such as being able to visit the property every 7 days and keeping the garden in order etc.

Thanks

Bonzer

jonesMUFCforever

You will only get minimal fire cover IMO.
Empty houses are a higher risk not only against opportunist thieves and hooligans but also for things such as burst pipes.

Maybe go through a broker as most compare this and that won't cover you.

crazygeordiegirl

http://www.ocaso.co.uk/en/paginas/seccion-productos/productos/Unoccupied-Residential-Property-Insurance.htm

*Scarlett

Maybe try

http://www.homeprotect.co.uk/property-usage/unoccupied-property-insurance

http://www.adrianflux.co.uk/unoccupied-homes/

There will usually be restrictions on the cover and you may have to comply with endorsements / conditions - shutting off water, visting regularly, etc.

Beccilou

If you have existing home insurance then the best advice would to be to go to your existing insurance provider.

kingstreet

Beccilou wrote: »

If you have existing home insurance then the best advice would to be to go to your existing insurance provider.

In my experience, most policyholders are looking for unoccupied cover because their existing cover is looking to dump them. There are specialists in unoccupied cover, but they do have special requirements, such as the need to "drain-down" the property before winter.

slinga

With so many older people living overseas during the UK winter I don't understand why this unoccupied type of insurance isn't more readily available.

Competitive quotes??? Impossible.
Restrictive conditions - the norm.

Jase_from_Up_North

slinga wrote: »

With so many older people living overseas during the UK winter I don't understand why this unoccupied type of insurance isn't more readily available.

Competitive quotes??? Impossible.
Restrictive conditions - the norm.

##

Have to agree my mothers fortunate enough to spend 1/4 to a 1/3 of the year in Spain, wish she was catered for so there was more inheritance for me

sueizzie

I would appreciate any advice on this.

I am selling an unoccupied house and the sale is due to complete in the next few weeks.

My current buildings insurance runs out before we can complete. This was the insurance that I took out a year ago when the house was occupied - the company agreed to cover the unoccupied property without additional charge. However they will not offer a renewal as they don't deal with unoccupied properties.

I am now being quoted £200-£300 for 3, 6, and 12 month periods by the specialist companies. I am also getting conflicting advice whether I can insure for less than 12 months with less than minimum security requirements (which is the case with this house)

I am reluctant to end up paying £300 for maybe 2 weeks' insurance, with no way of knowing exactly how much refund I would get on an annual payment.

Many thanks in advance for any advice!

*Scarlett

Home insurance is generally a 12 month contract however most will allow you to cancel at any time and refund pro rata providing you have not claimed since you took the policy out or you would be liable for the full amount.

There will normally be a cancellation / admin fee - poss £35 - £50 for cancelling mid term.

Also there is usually a 14 day cooling off period with a new policy so you might find that your dates fall within this. Of course be prepared to pay for the time on risk and any admin fees (but this is usually less than a mid term cancellation).

Each company operates differently and the only way you will know their particular terms is to ask. (Unoccupied property specialists might work differently as circumstances could be more likely to change mid term).

alicienw

I looked at this kind of insurance last year as I knew I would be away for 4 out of the 12 months. The best deal I got was with Castle - it is an over 50 insurance specialist but they still covered me (mid 40's) - seemed like the best deal with the restrictions and the excesses whilst I was away, the guy I spoke to was really helpful and it came in at less than £100 more than my usual policy.