House Insurance for Unoccupied property

[Mistroma]

I thought that I had this all sorted out in mid-April. Insurance company said we were OK to leave house empty for 60 days and could sort it out when renewing. However, it's been dire trying to get it sorted out.

I've been clear that we intended to be away from home from mid-April and would return in late October or mid. November. I'm currently back home for a week because of a death in the family and insurers have suddenly said that they can't insure the house as it won't be occupied. I'd organised regular internal checks by neighbours, reviewed security and drained water, turned off gas etc. All of this was based on discussions with the insurance company relating to absence for more than 60 days. I even got a quote from them last year specifically for an unoccupied property but didn't need it as a friend stayed a few nights each week.

Anyone got any ideas about getting the house insured when not occupied? I did make some calls in March to specialist companies but they all seemed to expect me to be selling or renting the house. Nobody was interested in insuring unoccupied mid. April - mid. November and occupied most of the winter. Quotes would only be for a year with the property empty and not give proper cover if I moved back home over winter.

The insurance company now say that they will cancel my policy in 2 weeks time and I have flights back to Spain next week. Any suggestions welcome. I'm going to start trawling the internet again in the hope of finding some home insurance.

 

[Davy_S]

I have found this company ok.
http://www.andrewcopeland.co.uk/

 

[longjohnsilver]

I organised our insurance with these people after having the same problem with Churchill

"Steve Wickens" <stevewickens@skyinsurance.co.uk>

 

[Mistroma]

Many thanks to you both. I have contacted both companies and supplied details of property and contents.

My own insurers were very not very satisfactory despite having a detailed note of my requirements. I was continually asked for my return date despite supplying it several times in writing (mid.-October - mid. November, couldn't be specific). They also gave me a list of requirements to be met if I was absent for more than 60 days. Now they claim they always understood I was only talking about a 60 days absence and they don't cover an empty property after that period. Odd, as they sent a quote last year for unoccupied insurance. Finally, they said they were going to cancel my new policy at short notice just after I'd renewed it.

 

[GrahamM376]

We use Nationwide. Each time we go away they add an unoccupied endorsement to the policy for the period of absence, no time limit.

 

[sailaboutvic]

This may not suite you , but have you tho of a short time let . That way you have some income at the same time the house will be occupied .

 

[macd]

This may not suite you , but have you tho of a short time let . That way you have some income at the same time the house will be occupied .

I can recommend that, but doesn't time fly? My short-term let clocks up eight years next week. Mind you, that required commercial insurance...which turned out to be cheaper than I was paying for ordinary domestic.

 

[Mistroma]

We use Nationwide. Each time we go away they add an unoccupied endorsement to the policy for the period of absence, no time limit.

Thanks for that, their website went on about assuming house was always occupied etc. and so I didn't follow up with them. Interesting that there's no time limit as their web-site mentions 60 days. I'll see if I can get a response from them.

I've now had one quote from another company (lots of exclusions of course) and am going to read the large chunk of text they've sent. Already spotted the policy saying anything over 30 days counts as unoccupied and then most cover doesn't seem to apply. I'll need to get clarification on that policy.

 

[Mistroma]

I can recommend that, but doesn't time fly? My short-term let clocks up eight years next week. Mind you, that required commercial insurance...which turned out to be cheaper than I was paying for ordinary domestic.

We did think about that but things conspired against us this year. Person who lived here last year had a change of job and couldn't stay again this year. Then we were both ill for several weeks prior to and including trip back to Spain. Now we are home for a funeral and need to get back to the boat within a week to get her out of a temporary marina berth (part of a cat's berth and he returns in about 10 days).

So unlikely to be able to sort out anything in time left as we also have a lot of things to attend to before leaving. Thanks anyway.

 

[macd]

No worries, Mistroma. It wasn't a serious suggestion: we all have different circumstances and you'll know far better than anyone else how to make the best of yours. Good luck with the insurance hunt.

 

[vyv_cox]

We use the Caravan Club's insurance. 180 days cover is standard, membership not necessary.

 

[Mistroma]

We use Nationwide. Each time we go away they add an unoccupied endorsement to the policy for the period of absence, no time limit.

I checked with Nationwide and was told that they would not offer such cover. However, if I already had a policy they said it would be referred to their underwriters and that they might allow it (or not). So looks like a non-starter with Nationwide even though I've been a customer for many years.

 

[Mistroma]

We use the Caravan Club's insurance. 180 days cover is standard, membership not necessary.

Thanks Vyv, I'll check that out. I do have one quote so far so can tae that if stuck. The wording on policy seems to exclude almost everything when I've away from home for more than 30 days. i.e. Any malicious damage, items stolen if burgled and so on all not covered at all.

UPDATE: On phone to Caravan Club insurance people and they will give a quote but I must be a member so will need to join. I think it's approx. £46 to join and don't think they'll ban me if I admit that my caravan is pretty water-tight and doesn't have any wheels.

 

[maxi77]

When we were away full time we used Copeland, pricey but they paid up or two claims with no hassle and did stuff by email. Now we are only away for a few moths at a time we use a normal insurer who does stipulate levels of security and minimum temperatures during winter months. I found them on Compare the Market but you have to read through every policy to find one that works even if you have specified long unoccupied periods.

 

[GrahamM376]

I checked with Nationwide and was told that they would not offer such cover. However, if I already had a policy they said it would be referred to their underwriters and that they might allow it (or not). So looks like a non-starter with Nationwide even though I've been a customer for many years.

Our old policy had a clause about unoccupancy being OK if certain conditions were met. A couple of years ago they changed the wording and it was excluded. When I phoned to cancel the policy, they said an endorsement could be added and I did it again last week as we came back to Portugal on Monday. Gas & water have to be turned off and no cover for valuables but other terms the same except double excess.

 

[vyv_cox]

Thanks Vyv, I'll check that out. I do have one quote so far so can tae that if stuck. The wording on policy seems to exclude almost everything when I've away from home for more than 30 days. i.e. Any malicious damage, items stolen if burgled and so on all not covered at all.

UPDATE: On phone to Caravan Club insurance people and they will give a quote but I must be a member so will need to join. I think it's approx. £46 to join and don't think they'll ban me if I admit that my caravan is pretty water-tight and doesn't have any wheels.

Sorry, I was quoting from memory about the membership. One good point, we claimed last winter when a car skidded on ice and demolished our downpipes. Their underwriters were a pleasure to deal with. You could also try Camping and Caravanning Club, who offer similar deals.

 

[Juggler7823]

I have been insured with Sagic (part of Salvation Army I think). Allows up to 90 days unoccuppied. Reasonable cost without too many conditions.

 

[Mistroma]

Sorry, I was quoting from memory about the membership. One good point, we claimed last winter when a car skidded on ice and demolished our downpipes. Their underwriters were a pleasure to deal with. You could also try Camping and Caravanning Club, who offer similar deals.

I'll check that out as well, thanks. Caravan Club did come back with a quote but it was very high and then I had to add membership as well. I was also put off by the fact that they said they couldn't email a policy document, just a quote. Their website says that an example document is available on request. Still a possible option but I've had a reasonable quote from SkyInsurance.

I always read policy docs. in full before accepting insurance. Not a lot of sympathy for people who complain that their bag full of iWhatevers was stolen on beach and then complain policy only refunded £100 or so when there's a clear limit in the policy.

Copeland didn't reply to my email on Friday and I was out most of the afternoon with mobile off at times. They might get in touch on Monday.

Policies all have a specific limit (30,60,90 days) and then various changes to cover and requirements kick in. We're fine on security requirement, water, gas off, tanks drained, regular interior checks and so on. It's just a matter of comparing cover when unoccupied and that seems to be very limited in many policies.

Car insurance was almost a problem when I said we might be out of UK for 7 months. They said we weren't residents and couldn't be covered. I said I'd lived in same property since 1977 and still paid tax, collected pension etc. in UK. Company said 6 months would be OK and I said we'd plan to be back in 6 months. I contacted them later and said we might be delayed and would 6.5 months be OK. Policy was updated and I accepted that quote. Not a problem now as we had to return home for about 10 days. I'll probably need to take a bit of care when renewing.

Thanks to everyone for the leads and tips.

 

[charles_reed]

I send my wife back home, to occupy the house and undertake grandparental duty.

 

[beebok]

We had this problem and went to Lumley Insurance Ltd brokers for Amlin Lifestyle home insurance,outstanding service
and it allows for 6mouths house unoccupied 01285 885885