Admin Buildings insurance for empty property – commonly referred to as unoccupied property insurance – is a specialist form of cover designed to protect properties in the UK that are vacant for extended periods. Unlike standard home or landlord insurance, unoccupied property insurance is tailored to address the heightened risks that vacant buildings face, including vandalism, water damage, theft, subsidence, and public liability claims. Standard policies often lapse when a property remains empty for more than about 30 consecutive days, making specialist cover essential.
It does not matter whether you are selling a home, refurbishing a property, awaiting probate, or you are the second or holiday home owner; an empty property needs custom protection. This guide will help you to understand all you require to know about this form of insurance, the reasons why you need it, the contents of the insurance, and how this insurance works within the UK setting.
Why Do You Need Buildings Insurance for Empty Property?
In the event that your building will be unoccupied but beyond the usual home insurance period (usually 30- 60 days), they may lower or cancel your existing cover. Unoccupied property is a riskier proposition to insurers as:
- Such problems as leakages, fire, or building problems may take more time to be noticed.
- Unoccupied premises are susceptible to theft, vandalism, and unauthorised entry.
- Storm damage or flooding pose risk because nobody is around to notice or reduce the issues.
In the absence of empty property specialist buildings insurance, any claim will be repudiated, and the owner will be left in a vulnerable financial position.
Understanding Unoccupied Property Insurance in the UK
Unoccupied property insurance is created to cover empty properties which are vacant because of a number of reasons: the property could be in between tenants, be in a state of renovation, be on sale, be part of an estate in probate, or just not used for some time.
The majority of UK insurers, even the brokers such as Falcon Insurance, which is a provider of unoccupied property insurance based in Birmingham, understand this need and have personalised products.
Key attributes include:
- Unoccupied property specialist cover is not included in standard home insurance.
- The policy terms are flexible, 3, 6, 9, or 12 months, which may be renewed.
- A building element that covers the property structure.
- Additional services include optional content to determine the presence of valuable items on site.
What Does Buildings Insurance Cover for Empty Property?
Most UK unoccupied property insurance cover is subject to the scope and variety of different providers, but the following are the basic parts:
Buildings and Structural Buildings Cover
This is the main substance of buildings insurance on empty property, which includes:
- Fire, lightning, explosion.
- Storm and flood damage.
- Sinking and building failure.
- Casual destruction of the building fabric.
Note: When a property is extended to cover detached garages, boundary walls, driveways, or patios, then they may be included, subject to the terms and conditions set out in policy.
Liability of Public and Property Owners
Many policies include liability cover to protect the owner if a third party is injured on the premises or their property is damaged. Limits vary but often exceed £2 million.
Contents Cover (Optional)
If there are leftover items in the house, including furniture or appliances, contents insurance may be added to a set limit, subject to security.
Legal and Additional Cover
There are policies that provide legal expenses and home emergency cover as add-ons, providing insurance coverage for litigation or emergency cases.
What’s Not Covered by Unoccupied Property Insurance
It is necessary to know what has been excluded. Common exclusions include:
- Wear and tear or gradual deterioration – damage as a result of ageing or absence of maintenance is excluded.
- Robbery: Most policies require evidence of forced entry before theft claims are awarded.
- Unreported or unauthorised occupants or squatters – failure to report may nullify claims.
- Disregarded check-ups or heating regulations: Some policies require frequent check-ups or meet heating standards.
It is important to read policy wordings to know the terms and exclusions.
How to Choose a Reliable Provider
When choosing an insurer or a broker when insuring empty property using buildings insurance:
Check Specialist Experience
Choose specialists like those featured in this guide, including established UK brokers such as Falcon Insurance, a provider of unoccupied property insurance solutions.
Review Policy Wording
Ensure the policy documentation includes clear coverage, exclusions, responsibilities, and claims procedures.
Compare Claims Support
The best insurers have straightforward claim procedures, documentation, and loss adjuster support where necessary.
Steps to Take Before Insuring an Empty Property
- Determine Your Vacancy Period – estimate the time that the house will be vacant, and select a decent term.
- Rebuild Costs – make sure that your sum insured is based on actual rebuild costs, including professional fees.
- Increase Security – install alarm systems and heavy locks to decrease risk and premiums.
- Periodic Inspections – have periodic weekly or monthly inspections as required by the insurer.
- Compare Quotes of Specialised Brokers – compare the quotations of specialised brokers and get the best.
Protecting Your Investment
Buildings insurance for empty property is an imperative component of responsible property ownership in the UK. In the absence of it, you will be exposed to financial loss due to damage, theft, liability claims, or lapse of coverage. Purchasing customised unoccupied property insurance, you are able to stand with a clear mind as your property is not occupied and your property is well.
