UK Unoccupied Property Insurance Quotes
Unoccupied Property Insurance
Specialist cover for empty and unoccupied properties, protecting the building against theft, vandalism and water damage where a standard home or landlord policy stops responding.
Why compare unoccupied property insurance with us?
- Compare buildings and property owners' liability cover for empty property
- Suitable for probate, renovation, void periods and homes awaiting sale
What is unoccupied property insurance?
Unoccupied property insurance is specialist buildings-led cover for a home left empty, protecting the structure against fire, flood, storm, escape of water, subsidence, malicious damage and theft while no one is living there. Cover centres on the building at its full rebuild cost and includes property owners' liability for injury to visitors or the public, with options for contents left in the property and cover against unauthorised occupation. Standard home and ordinary landlord policies restrict cover once a property stands empty beyond about 30 to 60 days, and leaving it empty without telling your insurer can invalidate the policy, so specialist cover keeps proper protection in place.
A property can become unoccupied for all sorts of reasons, and each one changes the risk. Probate and estate settlement, a major renovation or refurbishment, a home awaiting sale or completion, an owner working or living away, a second or holiday home, an owner moving into hospital or care, and a rental sitting empty between tenancies all sit within unoccupied property insurance. Insurer appetite varies by why the property is empty and how long, which is why specialist broker placement matters more than a mainstream home insurance quote.
Cover is usually written for a fixed term to match how long the property will be empty. Unoccupied property insurance runs short-term from about 30 to 60 days up to 12 months, and can be extended if the property stays empty for longer. Cover centres on the building at full rebuild cost, with property owners' liability and options for contents left inside. The term and the price move with the reason the property is empty and the state it is in.
Brokers on our panel place empty and unoccupied property every day. They understand the difference between rebuild cost and market value, why an empty property carries a higher risk with no one there to spot a leak or a break-in, how the average clause cuts a claim when the rebuild figure is set too low, and the conditions insurers expect around inspections and winter heating. They price the policy against the real property and the reason it is empty rather than treating every case the same way.
Related landlord cover
How unoccupied property insurance works
Tell us about your property
Property type, rebuild cost, why it is empty, how long it will stand empty, location, construction and any planned works. The more accurately you declare these details, the tighter the quotes the specialist underwriting panel can send back.
Compare specialist unoccupied quotes
Your details go to brokers who place empty and unoccupied property daily. They price buildings, contents, property owners' liability and malicious damage against your specific property and the reason it is empty.
Choose your cover and stay protected
Pick the policy that fits your situation. Short-term cover for a property in probate, longer cover through a renovation, or a term that runs until the sale completes, with inspections kept to the conditions.
What does unoccupied property insurance cover?
A policy built for an empty property keeps the cover lines a standard home or landlord policy strips out once the house is left vacant. Here is what a specialist unoccupied policy typically puts back in place while no one is living there.
Buildings at full rebuild cost
Cover for the structure against fire, flood, storm and impact, with the sum insured set at the full cost to rebuild rather than the market price. Site clearance and professional fees are usually included on top.
Property owners' and public liability
Legal liability cover if a visitor, contractor or member of the public is injured, or their property damaged, by a fault with the empty building. Cover of £2m is the minimum, with £5m commonly chosen.
Malicious damage, vandalism and theft
The perils standard cover removes as soon as a property is left empty. A specialist policy keeps protection in place against break-ins, deliberate damage and the theft of anything left behind, including fixtures.
Escape of water and burst pipes
One of the most common empty-home claims, because a slow leak or a burst pipe can run for weeks with no one there to spot it. Cover meets the cost of the water damage and the repairs that follow.
Optional contents cover
Cover for anything left inside the property, from furniture and white goods to items held during probate or a house move. Added as an option and sized to a declared sum insured for the empty home.
Unauthorised occupation and squatters
Protection against unauthorised occupation of the vacant property, with some policies also meeting the legal cost of removing squatters and putting right the damage they leave behind.
What unoccupied property insurance does not cover
An unoccupied property policy is built around the declared reason the home is empty, how long it will stand empty, the rebuild value, the inspection routine and how the property is kept secure. Once the property moves beyond any of those declared limits, the policy stops paying out. Knowing where the policy ends matters as much as knowing what it includes, particularly because underinsurance, missed inspections and undisclosed facts are the three biggest reasons empty property claims are reduced or declined.
Wear, tear and gradual damage
Loss caused by ageing, general deterioration, poor upkeep, slow-acting causes, rot, damp and corrosion falls outside the cover. Owners are expected to keep an empty property in good repair. Insurance covers sudden and unforeseen events, not the slow results of neglect while no one is there.
Missed or undocumented inspections
Cover depends on the property being checked at the interval set out in the policy, commonly weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Skip those visits, or fail to keep a record of them, and a claim for escape of water, theft or malicious damage can be cut back or declined. Keep dated notes of every inspection.
Undeclared building works
Premiums are rated on the state of the property you declare. Starting a renovation, an extension or structural work the insurer was not told about can leave a claim reduced or declined. Tell your broker before any building work begins and update them if the scope of the works changes.
Underinsurance and inadequate rebuild value
Where the buildings sum insured falls short of the real rebuild cost, the average clause applies and cuts each claim by the same proportion as the shortfall. An empty property insured for 75% of its rebuild value has every claim settled at 75%. Always insure at full rebuild cost, not market value.
Damage during unapproved renovation
Loss or damage caused by building work carried out without the insurer's agreement, such as a burst pipe during plumbing changes or a fire from hot works, is not covered. Contractors working outside the declared scope sit outside the rating as well. Agree the works with your broker and use qualified trades.
Damp, leaks and general maintenance
Slow leaks, condensation, penetrating damp and problems that build up over time are treated as maintenance, not an insured event. Repairing a failing roof, blocked guttering or perished sealant is the owner's responsibility, and any resulting damage in an empty property is unlikely to be met.
How much is excluded differs widely from one insurer to the next and from one property to another. Always check the policy wording carefully on inspection conditions, rebuild value, empty period limits and material facts before buying. For a closer look at cover for a home left empty, see our unoccupied property insurance guide.
When you need unoccupied property cover
Standard home and ordinary landlord policies pull back once a property sits empty beyond 30 to 60 days, dropping theft, malicious damage and escape of water before cutting to basic perils only. These are the situations where a specialist empty-property policy keeps proper cover in place.
Probate and inherited homes
An estate property often stands empty for months while probate is settled and the family decides what happens next.
Renovation and refurbishment
A home cleared out for major works needs cover for the building and the raised risk that comes with it empty.
Property for sale or awaiting completion
A home left empty on the market or between exchange and completion still needs full cover until keys change hands.
Void periods between tenancies
A rental sitting empty between lets falls outside a standard landlord policy once the void runs past its limit.
Owner moved into hospital or care
When the owner moves into hospital or long-term care, the family home is left empty and needs cover kept in force.
Second or holiday homes
A second or holiday home stands empty for long stretches each year, well beyond the limits a normal policy allows.
What affects unoccupied property insurance costs
Empty property premiums vary more widely than almost any other property cover. A well-kept house left empty for a few weeks between tenancies sits in a fundamentally different bracket to a probate property standing empty for months, or a home stripped back for a full refurbishment. Empty property cover costs more than a standard policy because there is no one there to spot a leak or a break-in, and the price turns on a handful of factors. Understanding which of these drives the premium puts you in a better position to ask the right questions before buying.
Set the rebuild value correctly and declare why the property is empty, how long for and the inspection routine accurately at quote stage. Insurer appetite for empty property differs more than most owners expect. Some insurers will not write property under renovation, long probate cases or homes left empty beyond a set period. Others specialise in exactly those risks. A specialist broker knows which insurer fits which risk, which is why the same empty property can produce quotes well apart across the market. Get the rebuild figure right too, because underinsurance triggers the average clause and cuts every claim payout proportionally.
MMC Unoccupied Property Insurance Specialists, FCA-authorised (reg. 916241)
Property condition and any works
An older property, or one in poor repair, carries more risk while it stands empty. Renovation or building work raises it further, and the insurer must be told before any work starts or cover can be affected.
Rebuild value and sums insured
The single biggest price factor. Buildings cover rates on full rebuild cost, not market value, so a larger or higher-value property costs more to insure. Any contents left in the property add to the sum insured and lift the premium in step.
Why it is empty and how long
The reason a property is empty and how long it will stay that way both feed into the price. Probate, a sale awaiting completion, a void between tenancies or an owner moved into care each read differently, and a longer empty period costs more.
Location, postcode and flood risk
Environment Agency flood zones, subsidence areas and local crime rates all feed directly into rating, which is why an empty property in a high-risk postcode can cost many times one in a low-risk area. An empty home is also a greater target for theft and vandalism wherever it sits.
Previous claims history
Earlier escape of water, flood, subsidence or theft claims load the premium and can bring higher excesses or peril exclusions. A clean claims record on the property helps keep the price down while it stands empty.
Security and inspections
BS EN compliant locks on all final exit doors, a monitored intruder alarm and a documented inspection routine, commonly weekly, fortnightly or monthly, all reduce the premium. Meeting the insurer's security and inspection conditions also keeps theft and water cover valid at claim time.
Every empty property is rated on its own value, location, condition and security setup. Compare unoccupied property insurance quotes to see how your specific property, its condition and security shape the premium across our specialist broker panel.
How much does unoccupied property insurance cost?
There is no fixed shelf price for empty property cover. What you pay depends on how long the property stays empty, its rebuild value and condition, why it is empty and the inspection routine in place. The table below shows how the common policy terms are usually priced and where each one fits.
| Policy term | How it is priced | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months | Short-term cover, rated on the rebuild value and the risk while the property sits empty. | A property awaiting sale or a short void between tenancies. |
| 6 months | Mid-term cover, where the property condition and how often it is inspected start to matter more. | A renovation running over a season, or a property held during probate. |
| 12 months | Annual cover, priced across the full year and extendable if the property stays empty. | Longer empty periods where no end date is fixed yet. |
| Renovation cover | Rated on the scale of the works and who is on site, with the insurer told before work starts. | A building or refurbishment project while the property is empty. |
A quick note on price: empty property cover costs more than a standard home or landlord policy, because with no one there a leak or a break-in goes unnoticed for longer. Premiums are quoted case by case by an FCA-authorised specialist broker on your rebuild value, location and circumstances, not set as a fixed online price.
How unoccupied property insurance works
Arranging cover for an empty property is straightforward. Tell us about the property and how it is being used, and we match you with brokers who underwrite empty homes every day, so you can compare quotes and get the right cover in place.
Tell us about the empty property
Give the basics that shape the risk: why the property is empty, how long it will stay that way, its rebuild value, the condition it is in and how often it is checked.
Get matched with specialist brokers
Your details go to FCA-authorised brokers who underwrite empty and unoccupied property, rather than standard home insurers that pull back once a home is left empty.
Compare quotes and get covered
Compare the terms and prices side by side, pick the cover that fits the empty period, and put a proper policy in place while the property stands empty.
Keeping your cover valid: conditions for empty property
An unoccupied property policy pays out only if you keep to the conditions the insurer sets, because an empty home carries more risk with nobody there to spot a leak or a break-in. Open any section below to see the eight conditions and topics that decide whether a claim on an empty property is paid in full.
Regular documented inspections
Almost every unoccupied policy requires the property to be checked at set intervals, commonly weekly, fortnightly or monthly depending on the insurer and how long the property has been empty. The visit is there to catch a leak, a broken window or a forced door early, before a small problem turns into a large claim.
Keep a written record of each visit with the date and who attended, and deal with anything found. If a claim arises and you cannot show the inspections were carried out as the policy asks, the insurer can reduce the settlement or turn the claim down. See our unoccupied property insurance guide for how inspection terms are set.
Winter heating on low or draining the water system
Frozen pipes that burst are one of the biggest empty property claims, so insurers set a winter condition that runs roughly from October to March. You are usually asked either to keep the heating on low and steady, commonly around 15C, or to drain down the water system completely so there is nothing left to freeze.
Whichever route you take, follow it for the full winter period, not just the coldest weeks. If a pipe bursts and you left the heating off without draining the system, the insurer can treat the condition as broken and decline the escape of water claim.
Keeping the property secure with locks and alarms
An empty home is an easier target, so insurers expect a defined level of security. That usually means five-lever mortice locks or British Standard equivalents on final exit doors, key-operated locks on accessible windows, and any alarm that is fitted kept in working order and set when the property is left.
Some policies for higher-value or longer-void properties ask for a monitored alarm or extra measures. Whatever is stated on the schedule has to be in place and used, or a theft or vandalism claim can be affected.
Clearing post and keeping the property looking used
Post piling up at the door and a garden left to overgrow are clear signals that a property is empty, and they raise the risk of a break-in or squatters. Clear letters and free papers from the mat on each inspection, and keep the outside tidy so the property does not advertise that no one is home.
These steps are not always written as a formal policy condition, but they support the security requirements that are, and they reduce the chance of a claim in the first place. Our empty property cover guide sets out what insurers look for.
Telling the insurer before renovation or building work
Renovation or refurbishment changes the risk. Scaffolding gives access, tools and materials attract theft, and hot works or exposed wiring raise the fire risk. Insurers need to know before any building work starts so the policy can be set up to match, and larger projects may need cover written specifically for a property undergoing works.
Tell the insurer the scope, the value of the works and how long they will run. Starting significant work without telling them can leave the property underinsured or the cover suspended while the work is under way.
Removing valuables and cutting down contents
Contents cover on an unoccupied property is often limited or excluded, and theft of belongings left in an empty home is hard to protect against. Where you can, take out anything of real value, from jewellery and electronics to important documents, and store it somewhere occupied and secure.
If items do need to stay, tell the insurer so contents can be rated and any limit set correctly. Removing what you can lowers both the risk and the amount at stake if the property is broken into.
Higher-risk empty scenarios: probate, renovation and long voids
Some empty situations carry more risk than others and insurers rate them accordingly. A property held during probate can stand empty for many months while the estate is settled, a home under renovation has extra exposures, and a rental left empty for a long void between tenancies attracts closer terms the longer it stays that way.
Be straight about why the property is empty and how long it is likely to stay that way, as this drives both the price and the conditions. The reason for the void decides how the policy is set up, so declare it accurately at the outset.
How missing a condition can reduce or void a claim
The conditions on an unoccupied policy are not optional extras, they are the basis on which the insurer agreed to cover the property. Miss an inspection, leave the heating off in winter, fail to set an alarm or start building work without telling them, and the insurer can reduce a settlement or decline the claim outright.
Getting the facts wrong at the start carries the same weight. Under the Insurance Act 2015, an undisclosed material fact about why the property is empty or how long can leave the policy open to avoidance, so read the conditions, keep records and tell the insurer about any change.
Every empty property is rated on why it is unoccupied, how long and how it is looked after. Compare unoccupied property insurance quotes to see how your conditions and circumstances are rated across the MyMoneyComparison.com broker panel.
Who needs unoccupied property insurance?
Any property left empty beyond a set period needs unoccupied property insurance, because standard home and ordinary landlord policies restrict cover once no one is living there, commonly after 30 to 60 days. They first drop theft, malicious damage and escape of water, then may cut back to basic perils only. Leaving a property empty without telling your insurer can invalidate the policy, so cover looks different depending on why the property is empty and how long for.
Executors handling probate
Executors and family looking after a home while an estate is settled. Probate can take months, and the property must stay insured throughout while it stands empty and waits to be sold or transferred.
Owners renovating
Owners refurbishing or extending a property that no one is living in during the work. Standard cover falls away once the home is empty, and the insurer must be told before building work starts.
Sellers of empty homes
People selling a property that has been moved out of and is waiting for a buyer or completion. An empty home can sit on the market for months, and cover needs to run right up until the sale goes through.
Landlords with void periods
Landlords with a rental sitting empty between tenancies or during works. Most landlord policies limit cover once a property is empty beyond 30 to 60 days, so a void period needs cover in its own right.
Owners moved into care
Families where an owner has moved into hospital or long-term care and the home stands empty. The property still needs full cover while decisions are made about keeping, letting or selling it.
Second-home owners
Owners of a second home or holiday property that is left empty for long stretches through the year. Cover needs to hold up during the months no one is staying there, not just while the property is in use.
Whatever the reason a property is empty, cover should reflect how long it will stand vacant and why. Compare unoccupied property insurance quotes to match the policy to your property and situation.
Unoccupied cover vs standard home insurance
Standard home insurance is written for a property that is lived in, and it restricts cover once the home is left empty beyond a set period, commonly 30 to 60 days. It first drops theft, malicious damage and escape of water, then cuts back to basic perils only, and leaving a property empty without telling the insurer can void the policy altogether. A specialist unoccupied policy keeps full cover in place while the property stands empty.
| Comparison | Unoccupied insurance Property left empty | Standard home insurance Lived in by the owner |
|---|---|---|
| Occupancy the policy expects | Written for a property that is empty, whether between tenancies, during probate, under renovation or awaiting sale. Being unoccupied is the reason the cover exists | Written for a home lived in day to day by the owner and their household. The insurer assumes someone is there to spot a leak or a break-in |
| Once the property is left empty | Full cover stays in place for the agreed empty period, sized to how long the property will stand vacant and why | Cover restricts automatically once the property is empty beyond a set period, commonly 30 to 60 days, unless the insurer has agreed otherwise |
| Theft and malicious damage | Theft, vandalism and malicious damage kept in cover, which is where a large share of empty property claims arise | Among the first covers withdrawn once the empty period is passed, leaving break-ins and vandalism on an empty home uninsured |
| Escape of water | Escape of water and burst pipes covered, subject to the winter heating or drain-down condition, so an unnoticed leak is still insured | Dropped early once the property is empty, so a burst pipe that runs for weeks with nobody there is not covered |
| Cover after the empty period | Full range of perils maintained throughout the void, provided the policy conditions are kept to | Cut back to basic perils only, typically fire, lightning, explosion and aircraft, with everything else suspended |
| Telling your insurer | The property being empty is declared and agreed at the outset, so the cover matches how the property is actually used | Leaving the property empty is a change the insurer needs to know about. Not declaring it can suspend cover or void the policy |
| If you use the wrong product | Cover responds correctly, the claim is paid, and the policy reflects the fact that the property is standing empty | Claim can be reduced or declined entirely. Leaving a property empty without telling the insurer is a material non-disclosure that can void the policy |
Important: Cover detail shown is indicative of how UK unoccupied and home policies are typically structured. It is illustrative only and does not constitute a quotation or offer of insurance. Specific policy wording, sums insured, empty-period limits and exclusions vary by insurer and individual circumstances. MyMoneyComparison.com Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FCA registration number 916241.
If a property is standing empty, a standard home policy will not cover it correctly, and neither will ordinary landlord insurance once the void runs on. Speak to a specialist to keep full cover in place while the property is unoccupied.
Specialist Unoccupied Property Insurance
Specialist unoccupied and empty property insurance comparison since 2013
Since 2013, MyMoneyComparison.com has helped UK owners insure property that is standing empty without the runaround. Whether you are settling an estate through probate, refurbishing a home, selling an empty property, covering a void between tenancies, looking after a home while an owner is in care, or holding a second home, our specialist broker panel underwrites empty property every day. Compare specialist unoccupied property insurance from a panel that understands rebuild cost, property owners liability, escape of water, malicious damage and the conditions that keep an empty-home policy valid.
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Everything You Need to Know
Detailed answers to help you understand more about unoccupied property insurance.
When is a property classed as unoccupied?
Most insurers treat a property as unoccupied once it has been empty, with no one living there, for a set period, commonly 30 to 60 days. Beyond that a standard home or landlord policy restricts cover, so you need a specialist unoccupied policy.
Why won't my normal home insurance cover an empty property?
Standard policies assume someone is living in the property. Once it is empty beyond the allowed period they remove theft, malicious damage and escape of water, and may cut back to basic perils only. Not telling your insurer can invalidate the policy entirely.
How long can a house be left empty before cover lapses?
It depends on the policy, but commonly 30 to 60 days of continuous emptiness. Check your wording, and tell your insurer before you reach the limit so cover is not reduced or lost.
What does unoccupied property insurance cover?
Buildings at rebuild cost, property owners’ liability, malicious damage, vandalism and theft, and escape of water from burst pipes. Optional contents cover and cover for removing squatters are available on some policies.
Why do empty properties cost more to insure?
With no one there, a leak, a break-in or vandalism can go unnoticed and cause far more damage. That higher risk is why empty-property cover costs more than a standard policy and is quoted by a specialist.
What conditions do I have to meet?
Insurers usually require regular documented inspections, keeping the heating on low or draining down the water system over winter, keeping the property secure and clearing post, and telling them before any building work. Missing a condition can reduce or void a claim.
How often do I need to inspect the property?
Commonly weekly, fortnightly or monthly, depending on the policy and the risk. Keep a simple record of each visit, because insurers can ask for evidence at claim stage.
Can I insure a property I am renovating?
Yes. Renovation and refurbishment are common reasons for unoccupied cover, but you must tell the insurer about the works and who is on site, as building work changes the risk. Some policies include cover for the works.
Do I need cover during probate?
Yes. A property left empty while an estate is settled is a classic case for unoccupied cover, and executors are responsible for insuring it properly until it is sold or occupied.
What length of policy can I get?
Short-term cover runs from around 30 to 60 days up to 12 months, and can usually be extended if the property stays empty for longer than expected.
Is contents cover included?
Contents cover for anything left in the property can be added. Loss of rent is less relevant for an empty property, but cover can be arranged where a let is temporarily empty between tenancies.
Why use a specialist unoccupied property broker?
Mainstream sites are built around lived-in homes and cannot handle empty properties, inspections or renovation risk. A specialist broker arranges proper empty-property cover and makes sure it responds at claim time. MyMoneyComparison.com connects you with FCA-authorised specialist brokers.
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