Contents insurance on probate property

aqua_leung

Hello, I hope someone can advise... We are currently in the process of selling our house and buying a family property that is going through probate. We are selling our property ahead of our onward purchase and moving in with my in-laws at the end of October, whilst we wait for probate to be granted (estimated mid-late November), after which we will purchase the house and begin renovations/improvements once we own it officially. 

During this time we plan to keep most of our belongings at the “empty” property as it is mere doors away from the in-laws house, and we plan to visit the property almost daily to sand, paint, maintain (no major works before probate is granted though). But someone will be there and checking on the house regularly, heating/electrics and water left on... This leaves me wondering what we do about contents insurance on our furniture and belongings. We don’t need to worry about buildings insurance as my MIL has sorted this separately. 

Will we need to go to a specialist insurer or will our frequent visits to the property mean that it isn’t classed as “unoccupied”?

Many thanks in advance for any insight or advice you might have!

MyRealNameToo

Definition of unoccupied varies significantly between insurers, the fact it's unfurnished is going to mean it's more likely considered unoccupied than otherwise. These days many require people to be living there (ie sleeping, cooking, bathing etc) at least a couple of nights to reset the clock of how many days it's been unoccupied. 

aqua_leung

Thanks. Technically it will be furnished as we’re moving all of our existing furniture in and could technically sleep there if required… I suppose I just need to speak to our current insurance provider (Halifax) and see what they say…

MyRealNameToo

aqua_leung said:

Thanks. Technically it will be furnished as we’re moving all of our existing furniture in and could technically sleep there if required… I suppose I just need to speak to our current insurance provider (Halifax) and see what they say…

Furnished would mean everything is setup, not that the whole property's content is in a single room under plastic... ie if someone looked through a window would they think someone is permanently living there or assume its unoccupied. 

p00hsticks

aqua_leung said:

 We don’t need to worry about buildings insurance as my MIL has sorted this separately. 

Surely it's up to the executors of the deceased's estate to be sorting that ? Or is your MIL executor ?. Note that once the council regards the property as being occupied there will be a council tax liability...

aqua_leung

Yes MIL is the executor. Thanks, I’ll speak to our insurance company to see what they recommend