Probate yet to be granted - Empty House Insurance.

Donnymad

The insurance on my late mother-in-law’s empty house is due for renewal very shortly. Probate has yet to be granted. Is my wife allowed to renew the insurance using some of her mother’s assets...probably a few hundred pounds?
Thank you.

Donnymad

Should have mentioned above: my wife is one of three executors. Does she need permission from the other two?

BooJewels

Ensure that you choose the right sort of insurance for an unoccupied property - general house insurance tends to lapse after a property has been unoccupied for a specified period of time, something like 60 days.  Unoccupied property insurance tends to be more expensive and will come with endorsements that you will need to meet.

Stubod

When we had this issue we paid ourselves and "claimed" the money back once probate had been granted. We advised the insurance company it would be empty for a while and they just asked us to visit the property, (about once per week), and record the fact.We did not pay any more than we would have done if somebody had been living there...

Donnymad

BooJewels said:

Ensure that you choose the right sort of insurance for an unoccupied property - general house insurance tends to lapse after a property has been unoccupied for a specified period of time, something like 60 days.  Unoccupied property insurance tends to be more expensive and will come with endorsements that you will need to meet.

Stubod said:

When we had this issue we paid ourselves and "claimed" the money back once probate had been granted. We advised the insurance company it would be empty for a while and they just asked us to visit the property, (about once per week), and record the fact.We did not pay any more than we would have done if somebody had been living there...

Many thanks to both of you for your replies!

BooJewels

Apologies, I got interrupted when replying earlier - I am also managing an unoccupied property as an executor - and I pay the building and contents insurance from the estate accounts - in agreement with the other executor.  But there's only the two of us as both executors and beneficiaries.

I think Stubod struck very lucky with his insurance, the incumbent property insurers wouldn't even continue cover when my Dad went into care and no other insurer I rang would either - in the end, I went through a local broker who found me something suitable with a specialist insurer.  If the property is actually empty (as opposed to unoccupied), you'll only need buildings cover, so that might be easier, we needed (and still do), contents too.

Flugelhorn

I managed to get the old insurers to continue cover up to probate and then until property was sold. They required that it was checked inside and out once a week. real pain as I lived 120 miles away but helpful neighbour did the necessary and kept a note of dates 

badger09

Flugelhorn said:

I managed to get the old insurers to continue cover up to probate and then until property was sold. They required that it was checked inside and out once a week. real pain as I lived 120 miles away but helpful neighbour did the necessary and kept a note of dates 

Me too. Existing insurer (Churchill) bereavement team was very helpful. Attached neighbour visited at least once a week, meaning I didn't need to do the 400 mile round trip

Linton

In our case the EA agreed to do the regular inspections for a small fee.  And as others have found, the insurance company was helpful.

Donnymad

BooJewels said:

Apologies, I got interrupted when replying earlier - I am also managing an unoccupied property as an executor - and I pay the building and contents insurance from the estate accounts - in agreement with the other executor.  But there's only the two of us as both executors and beneficiaries.

I think Stubod struck very lucky with his insurance, the incumbent property insurers wouldn't even continue cover when my Dad went into care and no other insurer I rang would either - in the end, I went through a local broker who found me something suitable with a specialist insurer.  If the property is actually empty (as opposed to unoccupied), you'll only need buildings cover, so that might be easier, we needed (and still do), contents too.

Flugelhorn said:

I managed to get the old insurers to continue cover up to probate and then until property was sold. They required that it was checked inside and out once a week. real pain as I lived 120 miles away but helpful neighbour did the necessary and kept a note of dates 

badger09 said:

Flugelhorn said:

I managed to get the old insurers to continue cover up to probate and then until property was sold. They required that it was checked inside and out once a week. real pain as I lived 120 miles away but helpful neighbour did the necessary and kept a note of dates 

Me too. Existing insurer (Churchill) bereavement team was very helpful. Attached neighbour visited at least once a week, meaning I didn't need to do the 400 mile round trip

Very many thanks for all your responses!
All now sorted! Only the building needed insuring.