Unoccupied Property Insurance
Providing property insurance for unoccupied and vacant properties
Unoccupied property insurance protects your property whilst it is vacant. This can be for a variety of reasons, from being between tenants, for a renovation, or for Probate purposes. It is crucial to consider both home insurance cover and house insurance cover to protect homes that are empty for extended periods. Unoccupied properties face increased risks such as theft and damage, making specialized insurance policies essential to mitigate these risks and ensure adequate coverage.
With varying levels of cover provided, and offered over annual or short term policies, our unoccupied property insurance policies can be flexible to your needs to ensure you have the right cover for your property.
- Specialist property executive to help advise on your needs and source from a wide panel of insurers
- Options for short term cover or annual, to match your requirements
- Flexible cover options, from full cover to more limited options where necessary
- Award Winning In-House Claims Team
- Lloyds of London Commercial Broker
- Independent Broker Since 2001
What is Unoccupied Property Insurance?
Unoccupied property insurance is a type of insurance policy designed to protect properties that are left empty for an extended period. This type of insurance is essential for property owners who need to leave their properties unoccupied due to various reasons such as renovation, sale, or probate. Unoccupied property insurance provides cover for risks such as theft, vandalism, fire, and escape of water, which are more likely to occur when a property is left empty.
Pub Li
Public liability: When working on site it is normal that there is a large number of people and high value of equipment and materials in a small vicinity. With this in mind, a small negligent act by an employee can easily lead to mass third-party injury and property damage. This cover will pick up the legal expenses and compensation payments following an event causing both third-party injury and property damage.
Read more about Public Liability Insurance
Public liability: When working on site it is normal that there is a large number of people and high value of equipment and materials in a small vicinity. With this in mind, a small negligent act by an employee can easily lead to mass third-party injury and property damage. This cover will pick up the legal expenses and compensation payments following an event causing both third-party injury and property damage.
Read more about Public Liability Insurance
Public liability: When working on site it is normal that there is a large number of people and high value of equipment and materials in a small vicinity. With this in mind, a small negligent act by an employee can easily lead to mass third-party injury and property damage. This cover will pick up the legal expenses and compensation payments following an event causing both third-party injury and property damage.
Read more about Public Liability Insurance
Public liability: When working on site it is normal that there is a large number of people and high value of equipment and materials in a small vicinity. With this in mind, a small negligent act by an employee can easily lead to mass third-party injury and property damage. This cover will pick up the legal expenses and compensation payments following an event causing both third-party injury and property damage.
Read more about Public Liability Insurance
The Covers We Offer
The types of cover provided by an Unoccupied Property policy include:
Pub Li
Public liability: When working on site it is normal that there is a large number of people and high value of equipment and materials in a small vicinity. With this in mind, a small negligent act by an employee can easily lead to mass third-party injury and property damage. This cover will pick up the legal expenses and compensation payments following an event causing both third-party injury and property damage.
Read more about Public Liability Insurance
Public liability: When working on site it is normal that there is a large number of people and high value of equipment and materials in a small vicinity. With this in mind, a small negligent act by an employee can easily lead to mass third-party injury and property damage. This cover will pick up the legal expenses and compensation payments following an event causing both third-party injury and property damage.
Read more about Public Liability Insurance
Public liability: When working on site it is normal that there is a large number of people and high value of equipment and materials in a small vicinity. With this in mind, a small negligent act by an employee can easily lead to mass third-party injury and property damage. This cover will pick up the legal expenses and compensation payments following an event causing both third-party injury and property damage.
Read more about Public Liability Insurance
Public liability: When working on site it is normal that there is a large number of people and high value of equipment and materials in a small vicinity. With this in mind, a small negligent act by an employee can easily lead to mass third-party injury and property damage. This cover will pick up the legal expenses and compensation payments following an event causing both third-party injury and property damage.
Read more about Public Liability Insurance
Professional Indemnity: Professional Indemnity Insurance refers to protection against incorrect or inadequate advice and services that you give. Unfortunately, any business can produce work resulting in both financial and reputational loss for their client and this is sometimes only uncovered long after the contract is completed. In this instance, your company can be held responsible which is when Professional Indemnity Insurance supports your business. At SJL Insurance Services, we provide insurance that can cover expenses, legal fees and pay outs incurred should an allegation be made against you by a client for providing an inadequate service.
Read more about Professional Indemnity Insurance
Escape of Water
Liability Insurance
Storm, Flood and Fire
Legal Expenses
Discover What We Have To Offer
Escape of water can result in extensive damage and costs, especially in an unoccupied property where it is less likely to be picked up quickly
If a roof tile falls and damages someone’s property, or a poorly maintained tree drops branches and injures a third party, you need this cover to cover the costs.
Simply put, this covers you for damage to the property due to these causes, typically resulting in significant losses.
This covers legal fees in the event of a property dispute with neighbours, trespassers or squatters. Essential for all property owners
We can insure any type of business, and our expertise ranges from property and commercial risks, to kidnap and ransom. Literally any type of business, in any sector, anywhere in the world.
Our expert brokers have access to a huge array of insurance products ensuring they can find the best insurance policy for you. They get to know your individual needs and provide the best possible insurance solution for you. You will be provided with an allocated account and claims manager.
Our full list of Policies can be found on our services page.
The Risks of Unoccupied Properties and the Benefits of Unoccupied Property Insurance
Leaving a property unoccupied for an extended period can pose several risks, including:
Increased risk of theft and vandalism
Higher risk of fire and escape of water
Potential for squatters to occupy the property
Increased risk of damage from weather conditions
However, unoccupied property insurance can provide several benefits, including:
Peace of mind knowing that your property is protected
Financial protection against unexpected events
Ability to customize your policy to suit your specific needs
Flexibility to choose from different policy terms and conditions
Is unoccupied property Insurance Right for me?
Unoccupied property insurance is a specialist policy to protect your property when it is vacant for longer than a standard home insurance or landlords insurance policy will allow. Typically, insurers allow for up to around 60 days unoccupied, meaning you won’t be covered for any incidents outside of this. If you are between tenants for an extended period of time, or are vacating the property for a significant time, then you will need this type of insurance to protect against risks like theft, vandalism, and property damage.
Why Do I Need Unoccupied Property Insurance?
There are a variety of reasons as to why you will need unoccupied property insurance:
You are a landlord between tenants for an extended period of time
The property is going through probate following the death of the owner
You are doing renovations on the property requiring you to leave the property
You are waiting for a property sale to be finalised
And many more!
All of the above are common reasons for the property to be vacant, and whilst empty, properties are at a heightened risk of theft, damage and escape of water claims due to the limited time spent at the property. Additionally, it is crucial to verify that contractors have their own insurance when hiring them for renovations. This coverage ensures that if the contractors cause damage to the property, their insurance will cover the repair costs, thus protecting you from potential liabilities. A specialist policy with SJL can protect you against all of the above.
Why Choose SJL Insurance Services For Unoccupied Property Insurance?
There are a variety of reasons as to why you will need unoccupied property insurance:
You are a landlord between tenants for an extended period of time
The property is going through probate following the death of the owner
You are doing renovations on the property requiring you to leave the property
You are waiting for a property sale to be finalised
And many more!
All of the above are common reasons for the property to be vacant, and whilst empty, properties are at a heightened risk of theft, damage and escape of water claims due to the limited time spent at the property. Additionally, it is crucial to verify that contractors have their own insurance when hiring them for renovations. This coverage ensures that if the contractors cause damage to the property, their insurance will cover the repair costs, thus protecting you from potential liabilities. A specialist policy with SJL can protect you against all of the above.
How much does unoccupied property insurance cost?
Unoccupied property insurance costs can vary dependent on a variety of factors:
The length of cover required
The rebuild value of the property
The cover level required – do you need a minimal level of cover or full all risks?
The reason for the unoccupancy
It’s important to consider empty property insurance as well, especially for properties that are unoccupied for extended periods. Empty property insurance is crucial due to the increased risks of theft, vandalism, and maintenance issues associated with vacant properties. Standard homeowner insurance often does not provide the specific protections needed for these situations.
Our expert insurance advisors will talk you through all of the above and source the most appropriate cover for you with the best insurer available.
If you would like to find out how much your Unoccupied Property Insurance would cost, scroll down and get a quote now. A member of the SJL Team will be in touch to discuss your needs.
and have peace of mind knowing that you're protected.
Unoccupied Property Insurance FAQs
Once the property has a permanent tenant or owner in place, you can then put in place a more standard Household insurance policy, something SJL will be able to help within our household team.
Absolutely, just contact SJL on 01905 27775 and our household team can talk you through this.
The policy may be refundable in this scenario, but it will depend on the insurers and the policy put in place, however we will make sure you are aware of this before you take the policy out, so that you have all the information required.
Yes, this can be the case dependent upon the length of time unoccupied and whether you rent it out or use it purely for personal use.
Absolutely, we always recommend updating your broker or insurer when any changes occur in your requirements to ensure cover is still in place.
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