house insurance during probate

G_M

My mother recently died. Her current house insurance will (I assume) be invalid as a) it's in her name and b) the property is not lived in.

I've looked around for insurance, but there seems no appropriate insurance

* the property is unoccupied - no one living there
* it is visited regularly (at least 2ce per week) and stayed in periodically for odd noghts
* it is fully furnished including valuables

Insurers all say an unoccupied property cannot have contents insurance (we are not yet ready to empty/sell the contents). Indeed if we decide to keep the house may want to keep much of the contents)

They also want the water drained etc which is not helpful!

Is this not a regular scenario for which there must be appropriate policies?

InsideInsurance

First of all, sorry for your loss.

Her death doesnt automatically invalidate the existing policy, the policy can be transferred into the "estate of" or "executor for" just as all the possessions and the property itself does until probate is complete and things reallocated to their new owners.

The fact the property is unoccupied will be the issue that may mean the existing insurer isnt willing to continue cover after X days. Certainly some unoccupied property insurers cover contents as well as buildings, by no means a recommendation looking at Towergate's Unoccupied website you can set it up as an executor policy, cover both contents and buildings etc.

I'd contact a local broker, other than Swintons, to get quotes. They'll also advise what the rules are in terms of draining water systems, blocking letterbox etc and if the occasional stays are sufficient to reset the clock each time.

magpiecottage

We had no problem insuring my in-laws' property after they died - it took us over a year to sell it.

All they wanted was locks installed on the downstairs windows. I bought a job lot on e-bay and fitted them myself.

G_M

magpiecottage wrote: »

We had no problem insuring my in-laws' property after they died - it took us over a year to sell it.

All they wanted was locks installed on the downstairs windows. I bought a job lot on e-bay and fitted them myself.

Did that include contents cover?
What level of contents cover?
Were there any conditions attached ie daily/wekly/monthly visits, etc?

Bossyboots

I used https://www.jltpropertyinsurance.co.uk/ for my mum's house and found them really helpful without the onerous expectations of some other companies. I think we had to visit every 30 days, definitely did not turn the water off as we needed the heating on. We were advised to remove valuables from the house and the downstairs windows needed to have locks but that was already a clause in the existing insurance so had been done.

G_M

cheers.

jlt are pretty expensive.

It's been suggested we could insure as a holiday home which is cheaper than unoccupied, as an executer will be staying there at least one night per fortnight. Does this sound legit?

Also any other recommendations for brokers?

rs65

G_M wrote: »

It's been suggested we could insure as a holiday home which is cheaper than unoccupied, as an executer will be staying there at least one night per fortnight. Does this sound legit?

Also any other recommendations for brokers?

Its not a holiday home.

Have you tried the current insurers? It really shouldn't be a problem for them.

Failing that, try http://www.biba.org.uk/Personal/BuildingsContents-insurance/Unoccupied-Property/ConsumerHome.aspx?category=Buildings/Contents&subcategory=7D7fBYDzaasrDZyiYTykvaUUKizJX3yN&type=2 and search for someone local

G_M

Have had a reasonable quote as a 'holiday home'.

The broker has been to the insurer and confirmed they will accept it on that basis.

Current insurers are continuing cover under the current policy, but now exclude theft/attempted theft and escape of water. To include those risks, they need the property occupied for at least 3 hours per day for 4+ days per week.

dacouch

G_M wrote: »

Have had a reasonable quote as a 'holiday home'.

The broker has been to the insurer and confirmed they will accept it on that basis.

Current insurers are continuing cover under the current policy, but now exclude theft/attempted theft and escape of water. To include those risks, they need the property occupied for at least 3 hours per day for 4+ days per week.

Get the broker or Insurer to confirm in writing that they accept a house under probate on a holiday home scheme.

The wording of the policy will be geared to a genuine holiday home and will define the home as being a second home used for holidays. If there are ever any queries you can produce the letter, without the letter you will be up the swanny.

Hopefully you have not used Swintons

G_M

dacouch wrote: »

Hopefully you have not used Swintons

:rotfl:


Nahh!