Unoccupied Property Insurance

Unoccupied Property Insurance

If you leave your property vacant and something happens to it, your insurance may not protect you. An unoccupied or vacant property is often not covered under a typical homeowner's or landlords policy, so if no one is living or working there at the time the damage occurs, you may end up having to pay out of your own pocket.

 

If you intend to leave your home or commercial property vacant for an extended period of time, don't take the risk. Unoccupied property insurance can protect you and your property at all times.


Available Covers:


  • Property Damage
  • Contract Works
  • Employers' Liability
  • Public Liability
  • Property Owners Liability
  • Legal Expenses
  • Terrorism
  • JCT Covers
  • Non-Negligent Liability

What Is Unoccupied Property Insurance?

Unoccupied property insurance is a specific policy that will protect you and your home and business premises if you leave it vacant for an extended period. If you are away and your house or commercial property catches fire, it is broken into and vandalised, or if someone injures themselves on your property and files a legal claim, a typical homeowner's or commercial buildings & contents policy will not cover you. In this event, you will have to pay for costly repairs or legal fees yourself. An unoccupied property insurance policy will allow you and your property to have the same level of protection, whether anyone is rightfully in the property at the time or not.

 

Cover is often tailor made depending on your needs and requirements, from basic fire policies to ‘all risks’ policies that protects you from most unforeseen events.

 

A residence or property that is left vacant poses a much higher insurance risk. This is because emergency response times will be much slower in the event of disaster since no one is immediately present to call it in, as well as the fact that an unoccupied building is more likely to be subject to break-ins, vandalism and burglary..

 

So if your property is going to be vacant for a considerable period of time, you should consider covering yourself with an unoccupied property insurance policy.

Is Your Property Unoccupied?

If you're unclear about what exactly constitutes an unoccupied property, the best thing to do is to talk to your insurance provider to make sure you are covered. Different insurance providers may define "vacancy" or "occupancy" in different ways, so it is prudent to get clarification and err on the side of caution. Check your current policy as it may have a fixed restriction on the length of time you can leave your property unoccupied.


Here are some common scenarios in which an unoccupied property might need additional insurance:

 

  • You own a holiday home which you only visit a few times a year, and is empty the rest of the time
  • You have just leased or purchased a commercial property
  • You are renovating a business premises
  • You have recently purchased a new home, but you aren't going to move in for several weeks
  • You frequently make long business trips abroad
  • You are renting out a property and are in the process of finding new tenants
  • You have to undergo a medical procedure which requires you to be in the hospital for an extended period
  • You are staying with family or friends over the holiday season
  • You're having renovations, remodelling or other work done to your house and are living elsewhere in the meantime

 

These are just a few of the reasons why you might require unoccupied property insurance. There are endless scenarios in which it is needed, so if you are concerned that your property might not be covered under your standard buildings and contents policy, talk to an insurance provider about coverage before it is too late.

The Benefits Of Unoccupied Property Insurance

Just because your property has no one in it, that does not mean you are not at risk if anything happens. A vacant property poses a higher risk than an occupied one because no one is present to prevent issues or call emergency services. If something happens to your property or someone else as a result of your absence, you will be liable to pay a potentially vast sum of money.


Here are a few examples in which unoccupied property insurance could protect you:


  • Your property catches fire while you are away
  • A pipe bursts, flooding your property and is not noticed until you return several weeks later
  • A break in while you are away, smashing windows and stealing valuable items
  • Your housekeeper or caretaker is injured by a light fixture falling from the ceiling and sues you
  • A roof tile falls from your building and damages a car parked on the street. The driver files a lawsuit against you, the property owner

 

When you leave your property unoccupied, anything could happen in your absence, leaving you with unexpected bills. Having a robust insurance policy in place can protect you from any eventuality.

 

The benefits of Unoccupied Insurance with Forum Insurance:

 

  • Peace of mind that you and your property are fully protected in your absence
  • Protection from damage, meaning you won't need to pay for costly repairs and replacements out of your own pocket
  • Liability protection, to save you from costly legal battles and fees in the event of third party damage or injury
  • A bespoke policy tailored to your specific building, industry, and circumstances
  • A dedicated account manager to assist you throughout

How To Buy Unoccupied Property Insurance

Don't risk leaving your property unprotected. If your home or commercial building is regularly unattended for long periods at a time, we can offer a bespoke unoccupied property insurance policy to keep you and your property safe. Whether you have one property or several, we can put together a specific plan that covers you for every possible eventuality.

 

If you are unsure whether your property is covered under your existing policy or want to find out more about protecting your vacant property, get in touch. One of our insurance experts can talk to you about your specific requirements and discuss how we can create a comprehensive, personalised, and affordable plan to meet your needs.

Recent POSTs

Managing The Changing Risks During The Pandemic

by Anton Hilton • 9 September 2020
Over the past several months, there have been some pretty drastic changes all around the world, thanks to the global pandemic, COVID-19. People are still confined in their homes in many parts of the world, and there are active quarantines to minimise the spread of the contagious disease. This pandemic has changed a lot of things, and have prepared people for the worst. Among other things, people have now started to realise the importance of insurance. There have been thousands of deaths all around the world just because they were unable to afford the medical fees. Other than this, there have been losses suffered as tourists had no insurance and were affected by many issues in foreign countries. So, in order to prepare yourself better for the unexpected, like this pandemic, here is what you can do to manage the risks!

How To Host The Perfect BBQ

by Anton Hilton • 7 July 2020
As we can now socialise with up to 6 family members and friends in outdoor spaces, including back gardens, a BBQ is a great way to have some fun with your favourite people whilst staying safe. However, there is now a bit more to think about with increased hygiene standards and social distancing crucial in preventing a second wave of the coronavirus. With the summer months well underway, we share how you can host a perfect BBQ. 1. Planning your space Planning your garden space and how people will move around your garden will help everyone to maintain social distancing. For example, you could create a one way system so that people can collect their food and navigate back to their seats with ease. Setting out a seating plan will also help to minimise movement and touching around your garden. 2. Hygiene Whilst this is already a must, ensuring that you wash your hands prior to preparing or handling food and utensils is crucial to reduce the risk of germs spreading. If you have hand sanitizer at home, have this available outdoors for your guests so that they can regularly keep their hands clean during their visit too. You could ask your guests to bring their own condiments and cutlery where possible too. 3. Food preparation Stick to having one person in charge of food preparation and BBQ'ing. Although there is minimal risk of any transmission from food or food packaging, this will ensure that touching is kept to a minimum. Making food preparations prior to guests arriving will allow you to prepare food calmly with no distractions. It will also ensure that you can spend as much of your valuable time catching up with your guests instead of in the kitchen. 4. Plating food Often at BBQs you may be used to having food in the middle of the table where people can help themselves. To reduce physical contact it is better for people to plate all of the food they would like onto their individual plate once food is ready so that there is less touching of surfaces and utensils. You could create a queuing system where people can use their own utensils to serve themselves, or you could plate the food up for them. This is especially important for foods such as dips and nibbles where you would usually share the packet. 5. Watch the booze! A couple of drinks at a BBQ is part of the fun for many. But after a few drinks people can tend to become lazy and forgetful; making social distancing more difficult to manage. Watch the drinks so that you can continue to be aware of the government guidelines. 6. Facilities People are aloud to enter your home to use the toilet as long as they thoroughly wash their hands. You should keep some disposable paper towels in the bathroom instead of having everybody use one of your towels to dry their hands. Wipes should be used to wipe any surfaces as required.

COVID-19 Return To Work

by Anton Hilton • 2 July 2020
With businesses around the world impacted by COVID-19, returning to work is one of the main priorities for many. Ensuring that you can create the safest environment in which your staff can operate without risk of infection is key, as it’s absolutely vital to maintain optimum well being throughout your team. There are several different steps that you can take to make sure your business can safely open its doors once more, so you don’t need to stress trying to figure out how to restart operations amidst the current pandemic. You should aim to abide by social distancing guidelines within your workspace, requesting that staff members always keep at least 2 metres away from each other. It’s a good idea to invest in some kind of disposable protection that your team can utilise daily, including face masks that cover their nose and mouth as well as gloves too. Advise your staff to provide their own meals and eat outside to avoid potentially spreading the virus through communal food, and regularly remind your team to wash their hands with an antibacterial soap for at least 20 seconds. It’s important that you can seek out the necessary health insurance required to protect both yourself and your employees whilst on the job, as they are potentially risking their wellbeing each time they attend a shift. Insurance can provide both healthcare cover for ill or injured workers as well as ultimate peace of mind for your team to know that their employer has their back no matter what may happen.

Watch Out! Scammers During COVID-19

by Anton Hilton • 29 June 2020
It is assumed that humanity will take over during a pandemic, yet there are more scammers than ever. The National Cyber Security Centre (NSCS) warned the public of criminals using the Covid-19 pandemic to scam people. The UK cybersecurity agency launched a service to allow people to report suspicious emails. There was also a campaign urging people to be more vigilant online. The NCSC campaign has a range of interesting and informative advice. This will empower the UK Internet users with the knowledge to help protect themselves. With the increased amount of people working from home, on a work computer. An increased risk in the breach and hacking of sensitive data is being observed. The advice also includes how to make sure that your Zoom calls are as secure as possible. As there have been many safety concerns about the use of this app. Jeremy Fleming, the director of government Communications headquarters, who oversees the NCSC, said: “Crisis is changing the world very fast, and the scale of activity among opportunistic cybercriminals seeking to profit from the virus at all.” The NSCS has said it will build on its existing takedown services. This service has removed more than 2000 scams related to the coronavirus in the last month alone. This actually includes over 455 online shops selling fraudulent PPE. A survey by TSB suggested that as many as 42% of people believe that they have been a victim of a bogus email. There is a range of insurance scams, including travel insurance and staged accidents. And while many insurance companies have made exceptions and allowances. If you receive a call or email out of the blue, delete or hang up. In some cases, where you have the correct insurance, you can make a claim and get some of your money back. You can head to NSCS.gov.uk to read more about this information and report anything suspicious. Click here to read the full ITV news story

Summer Property Maintenance Tips

by Anton Hilton • 26 June 2020
Check your gutters After the cold winter months with freezing temperatures, gutters are at risk of leaks and especially following the recent spell of rainy weather which can move debris into gutters, summer is the ideal time to check their health. Leaky and unsecure guttering can lead to bigger problems of water damage to your property, as well as being a fall hazard. Whilst you’re checking your gutters, go ahead and check your drainage system at the same time to ensure that there aren’t any blockages there, too. Doors and windows Similar to your guttering, doors and windows have been through a rough period by the time summer is in full swing. With the cold months of winter potentially cracking door and window seals, followed by spring showers causing further damage, it is imperative to check your doors and windows. Of course, if you have double glazing this is less of an issue, but checking that your seals are in order is certainly a good use of half an hour during the summer to stop any problems later on in the year. Central heating When the weather heats up, the temptation is simply to turn off the central heating, give the radiators a holiday and then start everything back up once temperatures inevitably plummet. Keeping the heating on a low-level through the colder summer days will keep the central heating system ticking over and also prevent any damp issues. During the summer, bleeding your radiators will also ensure that they remain efficient – if you’re unsure of how to do this then a quick search online will direct you to some intuitive videos. If you go on holiday during the summer, the same applies; keeping the heating on a low level may save you larger problems in the long run. Sound the alarms Whilst a check of your smoke and CO2 alarms may not seem like a particularly summery activity to be carrying out, you should be checking these units several times a year. By building these checks into your summer list of tasks, you are keeping yourself and others safe. Insulation throughout the seasons Updating your insulation may intuitively seem like a winter task, but part of keeping your home cool and comfortable in the summer is good insulation as this will stop heat penetrating the building. Of course, when it comes to the winter months you will also reap the benefits of insulation as it will keep the heat from escaping, ensuring a cosy property when the temperatures begin to plummet.
Show More
Share by: