House insurance for extended cruising.

SolentSnowgoose

SolentSnowgoose

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I was recently looking to renew the buildings and contents insurance for my home and got a quote from SAGA which seemed reasonable.

However one of the clauses was that the house could not be unoccupied for more than 60 days in one go. Next summer we plan to go cruising and could be away for 3 months, hence I contacted them to get this extended.

They were agreeable to extend to 90 days but this was subject to several conditions regarding regular inspection etc which were Ok but the big surprise was that the price went up by MORE than double.

Has anyone else had the same experience when trying to get cover which is suitable when going on extended cruises... Any recommendations ??
 
It can be very confusing. We generally go away for about three months and the attitude of insurance companies can vary from "someone must be around to enter the house at least once per month" to "if you are away, nobody (even our children) can enter the house". We have a neighbour who comes in and checks things and sorts the post, but it can get very difficult. It's best to shop around.
 
johnalison said:
It can be very confusing. We generally go away for about three months and the attitude of insurance companies can vary from "someone must be around to enter the house at least once per month" to "if you are away, nobody (even our children) can enter the house". We have a neighbour who comes in and checks things and sorts the post, but it can get very difficult. It's best to shop around.
Click to expand...

We are with Swinton.

We have a friend who looks in every week and keeps a log of visits.

Swinton are aware of our trips and as long as we have regular visits they have not required extra premium.

We have just returned from 4 months sailing and in 5 weeks leave for 4 month in NZ.
 
SolentSnowgoose said:
I was recently looking to renew the buildings and contents insurance for my home and got a quote from SAGA which seemed reasonable.

However one of the clauses was that the house could not be unoccupied for more than 60 days in one go. Next summer we plan to go cruising and could be away for 3 months, hence I contacted them to get this extended.

They were agreeable to extend to 90 days but this was subject to several conditions regarding regular inspection etc which were Ok but the big surprise was that the price went up by MORE than double.

Has anyone else had the same experience when trying to get cover which is suitable when going on extended cruises... Any recommendations ??
Click to expand...

give a neighbour a key to check now & then + clear the post away from the front door, job done
 
You could try http://www.homeprotect.co.uk/

They offer policies where houses may be left unoccupied for extended periods. I have cover for up to 6 months unoccupied in one go, but they will offer cover for properties left empty all year. On line quotes are available and the premium for us was about the same as I was previously paying with Churchill (60 day limit).

There are additional conditions relating to locks and weekly visits when the place is empty, but you're told about those before you commit.

I've never had to make a claim so I'm not in a position to recommend them, but it all looks ok on paper.

Rob
 
ffiill said:
There are times when perhaps honesty isn't perhaps the best policy!
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Honesty with insurers is always the best policy. House burns down, assessor turns up and neighbour or fire investigator says "well they are away most of the year". Can you afford to rebuild? I can't.

We've been with Nationwide for several years without any time restrictions provided after (IIRC 60 days) the house is inspected internally every 14 days. This years renewal changed to 60 days only. When I phoned to complain, they told me an endorsement can be added to the revised policy if I phone them each time I'm going away for extended period. We spend around 9 months away on the boat each year.
 
I was very honest about our plans to be away for 4 or5 months, and one broker said that there was nothing available. I tried another broker - the AA Insurance service, and they said that there was one company which had a policy that allowed you to be away up to one year, as long as someone went in each week to inspect the property. My neighbour does that. The company is E-underwriting, which is controlled by Aviva.

On a previous long trip, we got a nephew to house-sit. Because he was a relative, the insurance company were happy with that, but I got the impression that they might not have been if the house-sitter was not so well known to us.
 
This extended home insurance is a real nightmare! I have now tried more than 13 companies and only two have actually offered cover of 90 days. Many, including some identified within this thread say they will cover more than 60 days but then I discover they add exclusions like:
only fire and lightning cover after 60 days
or must have house checked every 7 days
or daftest of all they can cover because we have a burglar alarm but then require the power to be switched off!

They also fail to see the irony that they offer travel insurance for 90 or even 180 days yet won't insure your home when you are away!

The best option at present seems to be the Caravan Club but having specified long term absence which they agree to they then link you to a policy book that says maximum 60 days!

Maybe the RYA should do something useful and make some money by offering an insurance broker service for yachtsmen. Now I am off to reclassify my yacht as a caravan by adding wheels... and then argue with the Caravan Club over which document takes priority.
 
We have no problems with Nationwide, just phone them when going away and they issue endorsement no.3012 to policy for indefinite unoccupied period, then advise them when we're back to cancel it. Friends inspect the house every 7 days and, after I advised them that turning off the power would also turn off the alarm and security lights, they said (in writing) OK to leave it on. All we have to do in summer is turn gas and water off, in winter leave central heating set to 5 degrees and turn water off. I don't see any of these terms as a problem and they're carrying an increased risk at no extra premium.
 
If you don't have a friend to look in, or do t want to rely on one person (sickness, holidays, their plans change, etc) you could ask a lettingd agent / property management company to do an inspection monthly. They woukd be able to log the visit and make basic checks and even do any remedial maintainence for you.
 
We had a similar situation with my late mother's house. It was unoccupied whilst being sold, but insurance was difficult to obtain. The conditions were we visit every 7 days, that was easy as I was slowly emptying the contents, the letter box had to be sealed and the heating must be kept on to save water damage from frost (or the water must be turned off). To prove the visiting, we kept a notebook by the front door and entered every visit. Not sure if that record would have been any use in the event of a fire. But rules are rules to be kept to keep the insurers happy.
 
Just a few days ago I insured with a firm called Sky. I was with Churchill, but when I called them saying I could be away for more than 60 days they declined to renew my policy. Returning for a few days was not good enough, nor was having someone else come to stay in our house, it had to be one of the insured, nor was having a neighbour come in most days to clear post etc. I had the same response from Liverpool Victoria.

Churchill did suggest I contact BIBA (British insurance brokers association) who then put me in touch with Sky, who have been very helpful.
 
From time to time I house sit for people to cover this very problem - when the house in question is pleasingly situated it's quite an agreeable pastime. I have three months in the Lake District on the near horizon. Meantime a lodger takes care of insurance obligations at 'home'.

With second or family homes in France the insurance companies seem much more relaxed - and it's often one of the Insurance giants like Axa or Allianz behind all the policies so in the UK one is often faced with the situation of "the computer, she say no". You'd think that Saga, a company that exists to serve people with time on their hands would be up to the mark on this one.
 
We had the same problem,shopped around 60days seemed the standard and some offered 90 days.

We then found Lumley Insurance Ltd.6months time cover but required the house to be check
for leaks etc,not unreasonable.

Premium very competitive but the level of service was outstanding.

We recently had a subsidence issue which took 15months to ensure wall was stable.

The service once again was excellent.Lumley's called regular to make sure all was progressing.

Best give them a call.

Lumley Insurance Ltd
wwwlumleyinsurance.co.uk
01285 885885


Regards A satisfied customer.
 
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