Property insurance
Unoccupied Property Insurance
cover for a home or let property standing empty, when a standard policy stops protecting it fully
Cover for a home or let property while it stands empty. The inspection and security conditions that come with it matter as much as the cover itself when it comes to a claim.
- Between tenants, probate and sales
- Basic or wider cover
- Short and longer periods
- FCA authorised and regulated
Quick answerUnoccupied property insurance covers a house or flat that is standing empty, such as between tenants, during probate, while it is for sale or while the owner is away. Standard home and landlord policies can reduce cover once a property has been empty for the period they set. Empty property cover fills that gap, with conditions such as regular inspections. Tell MyMoneyComparison.com about the property once, and specialist UK brokers can come back with quotes.
This page is about empty homes and let residential property. Empty shops, offices and industrial units are on our unoccupied commercial property page, and homes having major building work on property under renovation insurance.
At a glance
Empty Property Cover, in Brief
Six things that decide how unoccupied property insurance behaves, before any of the detail.
- The unoccupancy period
- Standard policies change once a home is empty for a set time
- Basic or wider cover
- From fire-only cover to cover close to a standard policy
- Inspections
- Regular recorded visits are a condition on some policies
- Water off in winter
- Draining the system can be required
- Security
- Doors and windows locked, post cleared, keys held safely
- Liability still counts
- An empty property can still injure someone
The basics
What Is Unoccupied Property Insurance?
Buildings, and sometimes contents, cover for a residential property that nobody is living in. It is designed for the higher risk of an empty home, where damage can go unnoticed for longer.
The building
The structure and fixtures, for the rebuild figure on the schedule.
Insured events
From fire, lightning, explosion and aircraft to wider cover, depending on the policy.
Property owners’ liability
Injury or damage caused by the property to others.
Contents, if any
Furniture or belongings left behind, where included.
Escape of water
Included on wider cover, which can come with conditions.
Theft and vandalism
Included on wider cover, subject to any security conditions.
How it works
How Does Unoccupied Property Insurance Work?
You describe the property and why it is empty, choose the level of cover and the period, and the insurer sets conditions. Keeping to those conditions is what keeps a claim sound.
You describe the property
The type, age, construction and location, and why it is empty.
You choose the cover and period
Basic or wider cover, for a short period or longer, with the rebuild figure. The method is in our guide to calculating a rebuild value.
The insurer sets conditions
Inspections, water and services, security and what happens to post and keys.
You keep the records
A log of visits and checks shows the conditions were met if you need to claim.
What it covers
What Does Unoccupied Property Insurance Cover?
Basic cover protects against fire, lightning, explosion and aircraft. Wider cover adds events such as storm, flood, escape of water, theft and malicious damage, with conditions on some policies.
| Section | Where it sits | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Fire, lightning, explosion and aircraft | Basic cover | The starting point for basic cover |
| Storm and flood | Wider cover | Check any conditions for flood |
| Escape of water | Wider cover | Can be subject to draining down |
| Theft and malicious damage | Wider cover | Can be subject to security conditions |
| Property owners’ liability | Core or optional | The limit is set on your schedule |
| Contents | Optional | For furniture or belongings left behind |
| Accidental damage | On some policies | Less common on empty property cover |
Basic or wider? Basic cover costs less but leaves out events that can damage an empty home, such as escape of water and vandalism. Weigh how long it will be empty.
Exclusions
What Unoccupied Property Insurance Does Not Include
Losses where conditions were not met, gradual damage, events outside the level of cover chosen, and major building work the insurer was not told about.
Missed inspections
A claim can be affected if visits were not made or recorded.
Frost damage without draining
Where the policy required the water system to be drained.
Events outside basic cover
Theft or water damage on a fire-only policy.
Wear, tear and gradual damage
Damp, rot and slow leaks.
Undeclared building work
Major works need declaring or separate cover.
Unsecured property
Theft or vandalism where the property was left open.
Types
Which Empty Properties Can Be Covered?
A wide range of residential property, from a single flat to a portfolio. Age, construction and location shape the terms.
Houses and bungalows
Detached, semi-detached and terraced.
Flats and maisonettes
Purpose-built or converted.
Period properties
Older homes with rebuild costs to match.
Blocks of flats
Where units or the whole block stand empty.
Portfolios
Several empty properties on one schedule.
Mixed-use buildings
Empty flats above a business, or the reverse.
Several properties? See our property portfolio insurance page.
Who it is for
Who Needs Unoccupied Property Insurance
Anyone responsible for a residential property that nobody is living in for longer than their usual policy allows.
Executors and families
A home empty during probate.
Landlords between tenants
Longer gaps than the landlord policy allows.
Owners selling
A home empty while on the market.
Owners away
Working abroad, in hospital or in care.
Buyers before moving in
Bought but not yet occupied.
Investors
Properties bought to sell or let later.
Letting again soon? See our landlord insurance page.
Empty or standard
Unoccupied Cover vs Standard Home or Landlord Cover
A standard policy expects someone to live in the property. Once it has been empty for the period it sets, cover can be reduced. Unoccupied cover is designed for the empty period itself.
| Unoccupied cover | Standard cover | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for empty property | Yes | Only up to the unoccupancy period |
| Cover while empty | Basic or wider, as chosen | Can reduce once the period passes |
| Conditions | Inspections and services | Standard conditions |
| Length | Short or long term | Annual |
Check your current policy first. The unoccupancy period and what changes after it are in your home or landlord policy wording. See our home insurance page.
Cost
What Unoccupied Property Insurance Is Priced On
The property, its rebuild figure, the location, how long it will be empty, the level of cover and the claims history. We do not print average premiums.
Why the property leads
The rebuild figure, construction and age drive the price, and unusual construction or a larger home can cost more to put right.
Why the empty period matters too
The longer a property is empty, and the wider the cover, the more the insurer weighs the risk.
What the quote is rated on
The main factors
- Rebuild figureThe whole buildingBase
- Level of coverBasic or widerRate
- LocationCrime and flood exposureRate
- Empty periodHow long and whyRate
- HistoryPast claimsAdjust
Flood exposure
Flood history and location feed the rate.
Security
Good locks and alarms can help the terms.
Short periods
Some insurers offer cover for a month or a few months.
The conditions
The Inspection Conditions That Decide an Empty Property Claim
Empty property claims can turn on whether the conditions on the schedule were kept. Four come up again and again.
Inspect as often as the policy says
Visit inside and out at the interval set, and keep a dated log of each visit and anything found.
Turn off and drain the water
Where required, turn off the water at the mains and drain the system, especially in colder months.
Secure the property
Lock doors and windows, clear post and junk mail, and keep keys safe and accounted for.
Tell the insurer about changes
Building work, a tenant moving in or damage found. Tell the insurer promptly.
Quote checklist
What You Will Be Asked for an Unoccupied Property Quote
Six things shape the quote: the property, why it is empty, how long for, the rebuild figure, security, and the claims history.
The property
Type, age, construction and address.
Why it is empty
Probate, between tenants, for sale or away.
How long for
An estimate of the empty period.
A rebuild figure
For the whole building.
Security
Locks, alarm and who holds the keys.
Claims history
Recent claims and any past refusals of cover.
Comparing
Checking Unoccupied Property Quotes Side by Side
Four areas decide whether a policy suits the property: the cover, the conditions, the period, and cost terms. The price is only one of them.
The cover
- Basic or wider cover
- Contents, if needed
- Property owners’ liability
Conditions
- How often inspections are needed
- Water and heating rules
- Security requirements
The period
- Minimum and maximum terms
- Cancelling when a buyer or tenant is found
- Renewal
Cost terms
- The excess
- Higher excesses for some events
- Paying monthly or upfront
Check the inspection interval. It needs to be one you can keep to. Unfamiliar terms are explained in our plain English jargon guide.
Cutting costs
How to Reduce the Cost of Unoccupied Property Insurance
The levers are the right level of cover, good security, an accurate rebuild figure, and the excess. We publish no savings figures.
Choose the cover level carefully
Wider cover costs more but covers more.
Improve the security
Good locks and an alarm can help the terms.
Get the rebuild figure right
Too high wastes premium; too low invites a reduced claim.
Keep a visit log
It supports a claim and shows the property is cared for.
Match the term to the need
Short-term cover can suit a quick sale or relet.
Choose the excess deliberately
A higher excess is a lever, worth using only at a level you could absorb.
Glossary
Unoccupied Property Insurance Terms Explained
The words that come up most on an unoccupied property schedule.
- Unoccupied
- Not lived in for longer than the period a policy sets.
- Unoccupancy period
- How long a standard policy allows a home to stand empty.
- Basic cover
- Fire, lightning, explosion and aircraft only.
- Wider cover
- Adds events such as storm, flood, water, theft and vandalism.
- Inspection
- A visit to check the property, sometimes required and recorded.
- Drain down
- Emptying the water system to prevent frost damage.
- Rebuild figure
- The cost of rebuilding the property, not its sale price.
- Probate
- Sorting out the estate of someone who has died.
- Property owners’ liability
- The owner’s liability for injury or damage caused by the property.
- Excess
- The part of each claim you pay yourself.
Why MyMoneyComparison.com
Why Compare Unoccupied Property Insurance with MyMoneyComparison.com?
MyMoneyComparison.com is an FCA-authorised UK comparison service that introduces property owners to specialist brokers. We do not sell insurance and we do not give advice: the broker you choose arranges the policy. Using us is free.
One form, one property
Describe the property once, instead of repeating yourself to each broker.
Advice given
We are an introducer, not a broker. We do not sell policies and we do not recommend one insurer or product over another. Read our editorial policy.
Authorised and regulated
MyMoneyComparison.com Ltd appears on the FCA register under FRN 916241.
Incorporated
A UK company since 2013. FCA authorisation is separate and later; the register carries its date.
FAQs
Unoccupied Property Insurance FAQs
Answers on unoccupancy periods, inspections, probate and cover levels.
What is unoccupied property insurance?
Cover for a residential property that nobody is living in, such as a home in probate, between tenants or for sale. It protects the building, and sometimes contents, with conditions designed for an empty home.
When does a property count as unoccupied?
When it has been empty for longer than the period set in the policy. That period differs between insurers, so check your current home or landlord policy wording.
Does my home insurance cover an empty house?
Up to a point. Standard policies can reduce cover, such as for theft, escape of water and vandalism, once a home has been empty for the period they set. After that, specialist cover can fill the gap.
What is the difference between basic and wider cover?
Basic cover protects against fire, lightning, explosion and aircraft. Wider cover adds events such as storm, flood, escape of water, theft and malicious damage, with conditions on some policies.
How often do I need to inspect the property?
As often as the policy says. Inspection intervals differ between insurers, and keeping a dated log of each visit helps show the condition was met.
Do I need to turn the water off?
Some policies require the water to be turned off at the mains and the system drained, especially in colder months. Frost or water damage can be refused if a required step was missed.
Can I insure a house in probate?
Yes. Executors can arrange cover for a property while the estate is being sorted out. Tell the insurer the property is in probate and who is responsible for it.
What about a let property between tenants?
Landlord policies can allow a short empty period. For longer gaps, check your policy and consider unoccupied cover until a new tenant moves in and standard cover resumes.
Is property owners’ liability included?
Some policies include it and others offer it as an extra. An empty property can still cause injury or damage, such as a falling tile, so it is worth checking.
Can I cover the contents of an empty home?
Some policies offer cover for furniture or belongings left behind, with limits. Theft cover for contents can depend on the security conditions and on how visible the items are.
What if I start building work?
Tell the insurer before work starts. Major works can need a different policy, such as property under renovation cover, and undeclared work can affect a claim.
Can I get short-term cover?
Some insurers offer cover for a month or a few months, which can suit a quick sale or relet. Check the minimum term and whether you can cancel early.
What happens when someone moves in?
Tell the insurer and arrange standard home or landlord cover from the date someone moves in. Unoccupied cover is designed for the empty period only.
Does the location affect the price?
Yes. Crime rates, flood history and how visible the property is from the street all feed the rate, alongside the rebuild figure and the level of cover.
How do I set the rebuild figure?
For the whole building, as the cost of rebuilding it, not its sale price. A professional assessment can be a reliable way to check it, and it is worth reviewing if the property is empty for long.
How do I compare unoccupied property quotes?
Look beyond the price to the level of cover, the inspection interval, water and security conditions, liability, the minimum term and the excess you would pay on a claim.
Ready when you are
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About this page
This page explains UK unoccupied property insurance: what it covers, what it leaves out, and how inspection and security conditions decide a claim. It is general information rather than advice. Policies differ between insurers, so read your own documents and put the questions raised here to your insurer or broker.
How we approached this page
- Published UK unoccupied property policy summaries
- Home and landlord policy unoccupancy conditions
- Financial Ombudsman material on property insurance complaints
Legal & Regulatory Information:
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