Our unoccupied home insurance
is suitable for houses and all types
of residential property - no matter how the home became unoccupied or
the future intentions of the owner of the house.
Home insurance is available
whether the property is unoccupied pending sale, renovations, to be let
out our lived in. The
policy is suitable for executors of an estate awaiting probate for
instance as well as putative landlords 'doing up' the property in
preparation of letting out as well as 'investment properties'.
Quotes for unoccupied home
insurance are available for
properties anywhere in the UK. This includes
unoccupied property in major cities like London, Birmingham, Glasgow or
Newcastle and known problem areas like Bradford, Oldham. There is great
flexibility, cheap insurance premiums and very wide cover.
Examples of the need for
unoccupied home insurance
- The owner has
died and the executors require insurance on the property until Probate
is obtained.
- The property has
just been purchased but the owner does not intend to move in for some
time.
- Our unoccupied
property insurance seamlessly converts to landlords insurance (at
exceptionally competitive premiums!) so is perfect if the house has
been purchased by a landlord and is awaiting tenants.
- The property is
unoccupied because it is undergoing or awaiting renovations. Insurance
is available for both non-structural or structural renovations. The
principal difference is that property being structurally renovated
cannot have as wide a cover. It is not possible to obtain full
accidental damage on property being renovated.
- Unoccupied home insurance can be purchased by those with
power of Attorney to protect the home if the owner may be
unable to live there e.g. may be hospitalised or in a care or nursing
home.
- The owner may now
be living abroad and wishing to dispose of the property.
- The owner has
moved house but is presently unable to dispose of the previous
accommodation and doesn't intend letting it out.
Obtain a quick quote for cheap unoccupied home insurance.
Certain
underwriting criteria apply to unoccupied property insurance and
in some (not many) cases the risk may have to be referred to
underwriters for consideration. Houses that have had subsidence or in a flood area will be considered.
Cover Options
Unoccupied home
insurance comes with TWO levels
of cover - 'Limited' and 'Full'. 'Full' cover is not available, without
referral, for
properties undergoing structural renovation. Even the 'Limited' level
of cover far exceeds that given by most unoccupied home insurance
policies.
- Fire, Smoke,
Explosion, Lightning and Earthquake
- Storm or Flood
- Subsidence,
heave or landslip
- Impact
involving
an aircraft, aerial device or anything falling from them, train,
vehicle or animal
- Breakage or
collapse of satellite dishes, receiving aerials and their fittings or
masts
- Falling trees,
branches, telegraph poles or lamp posts, including the cost of removing
any that cause damage to the home
- Accidental
damage to Underground Pipes and cables (£1,000 limit to clear a blocked
underground pipe)
- Emergency
access
to home to attend an event (above) that would cause damage
'Full' insurance
cover provides all the policy benefits of a home insurance policy, with
the exception that cover for contents in the garden are (naturally)
excluded. This may be available for property being structurally
modified on referral. However there are some requirements.
- The property
must
be fitted with 5-lever mortice deadlocks and window locks and these
must be in use.
- The property
must
have the central heating kept on at 13C or higher and/or water system
drained.
- The property
must
be inspected at least once a week by an adult (and record kept)
Policy excess
Insurance
policies
have excesses. Unoccupied property insurance includes the following:-
- A
£1,000 excess
for subsidence, heave or landslip
- A
£250.00 excess
for escape of water (escape of water cover only applies if 'Full' cover
option is taken) - much lower than other policies
- A
policy excess
that may be selected of £75.00, £150.00 or £250.00 (reducing the
premium accordingly)
Insurance for when the home
is no longer unoccupied
The
unoccupied home
insurance is fully compatible with either a landlord
insurance or a home insurance policy.
With the
former the
insurance premium depends on the tenant residing in the property
(standard, DSS,
Students, Asylum seekers, holiday home - all can be covered), cover
automatically reverts to 'FULL' once we are advised of the change, the
escape of water excess reduces to £150.00 (unless the £250.00 option
was taken) and accidental damage cover is available.
With the
latter (as
well as the change in excess), premium rates for both buildings and
contents are substantially reduced (see here for a further unoccupied property
insurance quotation with quotes for home insurance. Furthermore all
risks cover may be added to protect valuables e.g. jewellery or
electrical equipment (IPads, IPhones etc), pedal cycles, frozen food,
sports equipment, money and credit cards. An enhanced no claims bonus
of up to 25% and discounts for the over 50 result in very cheap home
insurance.
There is
therefore
no need to cancel the policy mid-term due to a change of use. Call us
and we'll sort it out.
The
insurance may be
cancelled at any time if, for example, the property has been sold. The
return premium will be based on 30 days more cover, loss of commission
on the resulting amount and a £15.00 fee (much lower than most insurers
charge).
Difficulties obtaining
unoccupied property insurance
- Direct
companies
do not like offering insurance cover for unoccupied properties because
they perceive the risk to be substantially greater. Unoccupied property
insurance is best purchased through an insurance broker.
- The
property may
be let in the future on a commercial basis - many house insurance
companies do not wish to insure properties let out and so will not
cover the unoccupied property - nevertheless it is worth contacting
your current insurance provider to see if they will provide cover if
your main property is with them.
- There
are greater
risks attached to property that is empty than when someone lives there:
- There
is not
usually someone in so if damage does occur then it may not be spotted
for some time and additional damage may occur.
- Unoccupied
property is sometimes vandalised - bricks thrown through windows,
burning rags pushed through the letter-box
- squatters
may
move in.
Risk Management - reduce the
risk of making a claim on your unoccupied home insurance policy
Companies
providing
unoccupied home insurance, will normally only do so if the insured
is willing to help reduce the chance of a loss - this is known as
risk-management. This is not, per se, a requirement for this insurance
policy but well recommended.
- Arranging
a
regular inspection of the empty property either directly or by a
trusted agent.
- Turning
off the
central heating or ensuring that it is on permanently to reduce the
risk of burst pipes
- Sealing
off
letter boxes and boarding up windows to reduce vandalism.
News
- Our
cheap
unoccupied property insurance rates just got even cheaper.
Additional discounts up to 35%!: - More
- CX Let
introduce
new short term unoccupied property insurance policy. New policy
provides short period options of three, six or nine months : - More
Home Page
| unoccupied
property insurance | holiday
home insurance | rented
property asylum seekers | rented to
DSS referrals | subsidised
rental agreements | rented
property insurance for students | overview
of rented property insurance
B. Portwood & Co also offer cover on
other types of property, professional let, DSS let, student lets,
asylum seekers as well as unoccupied property insurance.
B
Portwood & Co are registered at 44 Medomsley Road, Consett, Co.
Durham. DH8 5HA. Unoccupied property insurance is administered at 145
Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland. DL14 7EN
Tel 01388607105 for any queries, advice, help or assistance.
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