Insuring empty house for short period before sale

RaymondDouglas

I decided to sell the house I was letting. The tenant moved out in August. The house is sold STC. The sale could complete in November. House currently empty, unfurnished.

What do people in these circumstances normally do about home insurance? The current insurers insist that after 30 days unoccupied - they insisted that 'unoccupied' means without permanent resident, i.e. not me or a friend staying occasionally - new stipulations kick in:

The Buildings must be inspected every 14 days by a professional managing agent and a detailed record must be maintained for Our inspection on request showing the dates visited, who attended and observations made.

All letter boxes and other openings must be securely sealed

I can get a friend to check up on the house, but 'professional managing agent' sounds more formal. I really do not want seal the letter box as surely this alerts by-passers to the property being empty (and I might receive important post).

I have read MSE's useful Unoccupied Home Insurance guide, but do I really need to get an expensive new policy for (hopefully) so short a time? What would you do?

Many thanks!

monkey-fingers

Letterbox is easy. Block it from the inside of the house.

Professional managing agent is a laugh. Most managing agents don't even know the rules, leave alone being regarded as a professional.

Herzlos

I suspect it's for the inspection report, rather than relying on someone self-certifying that they checked on the house.

flaneurs_lobster

What would you do?

How much are you out of pocket if the house burns down this afternoon?

I'd be buying the insurance, expensive or otherwise.

UnsureAboutthis

#the bit about the inspection—is it in the ins contract?

I guess every ins co is slightly different

RaymondDouglas

Thank you monkey-fingers and Herzlos.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82159070#Comment_82159070

I am wondering how I can be confident that the insurance company will accept that my reporter qualifies as a 'professional managing agent'.

Good point about the letterbox, monkey-fingers. I will purchase a Blockabox.

user1977

I am wondering how I can be confident that the insurance company will accept that my reporter qualifies as a 'professional managing agent'.

Well, do they do it for a living or not?

RaymondDouglas

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82159124#Comment_82159124

Am I being asked to hire a 'managing agent'?

Herzlos

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82159103#Comment_82159103

You'd need to ask the insurance company. But I expect they'll want proof that they are a genuine company with some kind of professional liability insurance, and these checks are a normal part of their business.

I don't think paying a friend to do the job would satisfy them.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82159138#Comment_82159138

In short yes, by this insurer, but there are plenty of other insurers out there who have different requirements

Slinky

We had a landlord's policy on our house that required us to check every 14 days if the property were empty, and ensure the heating was on at a minimum temperature across the winter. We were able to cancel it when we had a tenant go in. This was about 9 years ago.

It might be worth speaking to an insurance broker rather than trying to find something online. There was no need for us to have a professional agent checking the house for the cover to be valid.