Unoccupied Home Insurance – What Is & Isn’t Covered?
There are some situations in life that lead to homes being unoccupied for a period of time, whether that be while you are on holiday, or while you are planning to sell your home. Unoccupied homes often come with higher chances of theft or damage. You may be wondering the best way to cover your home while it is unoccupied and what home insurance for unoccupied homes entails.
If you are aware that your property is going to be unoccupied for a length of time, it is important to let insurance providers know to ensure you have effective cover. Your standard policy will typically allow for a home to be empty for a specific period of up to 60 days, this is something that you should check with your provider as anything outside of this timeframe will not be eligible for cover.
What Is Covered By Unoccupied Home Insurance?
Generally, unoccupied home insurance policies will cover the following instances, but it is still important that you check with providers that these are included in the policy.
Theft and vandalism should both be covered by an unoccupied home insurance policy. This may be if someone attempts to break into your home or manages to break into your home and steal any possessions. And vandalism entails that criminal damage has occurred while you were absent from your property.
Fire, storm and flood damage should be covered in the policy, providing peace of mind if a natural disaster was to strike your property in your absence.
What Is Not Covered By Unoccupied Home Insurance?
Although unoccupied home insurance policies will vary based on the provider, it is generally accepted that an insurance provider will not pay out for a claim for these reasons.
Unforced entry is not covered in an unoccupied home insurance policy. This occurs when windows or doors are left unlocked while you are absent, and thieves or squatters are able to enter your property without forcing entry.
Any work by contractors will not be covered in an unoccupied home insurance policy. This may be if you have hired contractors to work on your property in your absence and damage is caused. Although your insurance policy will not cover this, contractors should have their own insurance policy that will.
To minimise the risk of these factors that will not be considered for unoccupied home insurance, it is crucial for you to always make sure that windows and doors are thoroughly locked at all times in your absence. If you have a trusted neighbour, see if they can visit your property in your absence to make sure everything is locked, safe and secure. When hiring any contractors to carry out work, always check with them first that they have their own insurance policy to cover any damage that may be caused.
Work with Crowthorne Insurance to keep your property covered in the event of a break-in, theft or vandalism during any period of time that your home is unoccupied. Give us a call to find out more.
