Advice for empty UK house and insurance?

[Guest mandy1970]

When we moved we took out Landlord's insurance. Unfortunately, we still don't have tennants and, because of this, our insurance provider is cancelling our policy on 24/12 (60 day unoccupancy rule).

 

We have been on the internet to try and get just buildings insurance or equivalent, with unoccupancy, but can't find any. (would change back to Landlord's if we get tennants) We have family checking our house 3/4 times a week and just now putting on the heating for us so it is getting looked after. We are really looking for insurance incase our house somehow burnt down.

 

What did you do?

 

Can anyone help with suggestions of companies, etc.?

Mandy

[Guest guest33730]

When we moved we took out Landlord's insurance. Unfortunately, we still don't have tennants and, because of this, our insurance provider is cancelling our policy on 24/12 (60 day unoccupancy rule).

 

We have been on the internet to try and get just buildings insurance or equivalent, with unoccupancy, but can't find any. (would change back to Landlord's if we get tennants) We have family checking our house 3/4 times a week and just now putting on the heating for us so it is getting looked after. We are really looking for insurance incase our house somehow burnt down.

 

What did you do?

 

Can anyone help with suggestions of companies, etc.?

Mandy

 

The landlords cover that we offer our clients has the same kind of exclusions as you mention but the cover doesn't cease after the time period it just introduces new exclusions (basically burst pipe cover is the only main one that becomes excluded).

 

Which landlords insurance do you have, where is your property and are you using an agent?

 

Daniel

Owner LET-it

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[Guest mandy1970]

Our property is in Fife and we are using a letting agent. Also our house is up for sale.

We have insurance with Direct Line. There are exclusions ,drain systems and switch off electric after 20 days ( they are still on just now because of the weather). The letter I received from them also states at the bottom

 

"IMPORTANT - WE ARE UNABLE TO COVER AN UNOCCUPIED PREMISES FOR MORE THAN 60 DAYS"

 

This is why it is going to be cancelled.

We struggled to get this insurance, because our house was built in 1797 and we were going to live abroad, nobody else I contacted would cover us.

[Pumpkin]

Try a broker. We have used Adrian Flux, they sorted out the policy first of all for an empty property and then when we got tennants in they switched it to a landlord property. If our tenants leave we will call them again and get it switched over once more. I have also used them when my fatehr died and I had an empty house in the north of england to look after.

 

They do normally say they want somebody to go along and check it every 30 days, so we jjust say yes we have done that. :biggrin:

[Guest guest33730]

Our property is in Fife and we are using a letting agent. Also our house is up for sale.

We have insurance with Direct Line. There are exclusions ,drain systems and switch off electric after 20 days ( they are still on just now because of the weather). The letter I received from them also states at the bottom

 

"IMPORTANT - WE ARE UNABLE TO COVER AN UNOCCUPIED PREMISES FOR MORE THAN 60 DAYS"

 

This is why it is going to be cancelled.

We struggled to get this insurance, because our house was built in 1797 and we were going to live abroad, nobody else I contacted would cover us.

 

Mandy1970,

 

I've emailed my guys back in the UK and will hopefully be able to PM you soon with a phone number of a specialist Broker in Scotland we use regularly.

 

All the best

 

Daniel

[rammygirl]

Also ask if having an agent check it every week or so and documenting this will suffice. We did this with properties in Greece over the winter when they were empty and it was OK (the check had to be once a month but documented). The main issue they have is that damage or leaks will go undetected if empty and can lead to further problems so a regular check can cover this.

 

Worth asking anyway.

[chalkyhill]

We have our place in Scotland empty whilst we try and sell it and are just using bank of scotland insurance - but we have to have a family member stay for two days in every 60 - which is fine as my parents are using it as a holiday home.

 

I just hope it sells in the next 18months.

[Guest sh7t man no way]

we got a 120 day insurance with the condition that we leave the central heating on a low setting (burst pipes)--it a grey area with insurance companys--but there are specialist insurance companys that will take it on--we also had to have a key holder that visited the property once a week