Home Insurance if away for 6 months

moana

We spend time overseas, usually for 6 months, but have only been able to find quotes for Home Insurance for a maximum of 60 days if the house is unoccupied.

I know there are companies who will insure for longer if a relation or neighbour visits the house weekly but we don't want to burden relations or neighbours with this.

Now that people work overseas for long periods and even take the winters overseas surely there are Insurance companies who provide insurance if the house is shut for long periods and not checked regularly.
But we can't find any companies willing to do this.

Anyone on here help or have an idea..

Thanks, hopefully.

Steve1981

moana wrote: »

We spend time overseas, usually for 6 months, but have only been able to find quotes for Home Insurance for a maximum of 60 days if the house is unoccupied.

I know there are companies who will insure for longer if a relation or neighbour visits the house weekly but we don't want to burden relations or neighbours with this.

Now that people work overseas for long periods and even take the winters overseas surely there are Insurance companies who provide insurance if the house is shut for long periods and not checked regularly.
But we can't find any companies willing to do this.

Anyone on here help or have an idea..

Thanks, hopefully.

I really think you may struggle with this, the increase to risk on properties that are unoccupied are vast, if you get a leak in your roof the day after you go away and come back six months later at the start of summer, you have had 6 months of winter rain pouring in, the damage would be massive. not to mention the increase in risk from burglary and vandalism.

A lot of people just 'forget' to tell insurers, which is obviously not recommended. Some insurers might allow it if someone is going round as you say a few times a week, but again the problem that gives it that if they go every wednesday and saturday morning, the fact that there is a pattern to the visits can put insurers off.

have you thought about letting a young family member stay whilst you are away? would give them the experience of moving out of home without any of the financial constraints, and would keep your property occupied whilst your away?

foreign_correspondent

what about letting your home and getting landlords indurance? thats what we did.

moana

Thanks.
I've tried letting before on another property and was fortunate enough to have no problems.
In fact that property was in London and when I stopped letting the house was burgled 7 times. So we sold it just before House prices rocketed, so we reckon we lost at least a few 100k on that decision :-)

But because we wish to use our present house every 6 months we don't want to let it out.
We have great neighbours but as I say I don't want to impose on them because they keep a good look out on the house anyway.

I thought that with the current trend to people living overseas, many of them would retain their UK property so that insurance companies would have developed insurance for them.

Seems not to be the case.
But thanks to all for the replies.

ben500

Have you actually spoken with insurance companies or just tried on-line quotes?

Quote

moana wrote: »

Now that people work overseas for long periods and even take the winters overseas surely there are Insurance companies who provide insurance if the house is shut for long periods and not checked regularly.

What on earth are you talking about? People working overseas? Taking winters overseas? Who actually does that? I imagine it's a handful of people, maybe not in your bubble, but generally.

Insurance companies usually work on a similar principle to economies of scale. They spread the risk over as many policies as possible in the hope that the premium income they receive outweighs the amount they have to pay for claims. If the demand and profitability was enough for the insurance you require to be widely provided, it would be. As it is, it sounds like a more specialised risk.

Use a bit of common sense.

Enjoy your holiday.

mattymoo

moana wrote: »

In fact that property was in London and when I stopped letting the house was burgled 7 times.

Kind of proves the insurer's stance on this doesn't it.

mic200202

Moana, you could try the Halifax for this. They will accept property unoccupied for up to 12 months at a time - however they have a few stipulations (which are fairly commonsense if you think about it) such as ensure the water and electric are turned off, or run the central heating on a low setting to avoid burst pipes. Also, you will find that insurers will only cover such properties by reducing or removing parts of the cover ie water damage or leakage wont be covered.Excess's may be increased overall.

moana

ben500 wrote: »

Have you actually spoken with insurance companies or just tried on-line quotes?

I rather concerned about online quotes and speaking to and giving details to insurance companies because suspect the fact that I want insurance when I'm away for 6 months a year will get back to my current insurer.

moana

Quote wrote: »

What on earth are you talking about? People working overseas? Taking winters overseas? Who actually does that? I imagine it's a handful of people, maybe not in your bubble, but generally.

.

Seems to me you are the one needing some common sense.

Or try getting out more.

I ask a question I don't expect flaming from a know nothing fool.

Quote

LolZ. I would hardly call it a flaming and, to be fair, I'm not the one having to ask questions about insurance, so I must know something. If you want to take what I wrote out of context, be my guest, but I stand by my comment.

All the best.