Home insurance for an unoccupied home
It’s possible to get home insurance for an unoccupied home, you just have to let your insurer know.
Key takeaways
- Home insurers typically define a home as 'unoccupied' after it's been vacant for 60 days.
- Home insurance is still available for unoccupied homes, but you'll have to tell your insurer about it.
- You will risk losing our cover if your home is left unoccupied on a regular policy where you haven't notified your insurer.
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How different insurers define 'unoccupied' homes
Home insurers have different limits when it comes to how long it takes for a house to be unoccupied. We did some research and found that this limit can vary between 60 days up to 100 days.
Brand | How many days until the property is unoccupied |
|---|---|
 | Property is unoccupied if vacant for more than 60 consecutive days. |
 | Property is unoccupied if vacant for more than 60 consecutive days. |
 | Property is unoccupied if vacant for more than 60 consecutive days. |
 | Property is unoccupied if vacant for more than 60 consecutive days. |
 | Property is unoccupied if vacant for more than 60 consecutive days. |
 | Property is unoccupied if vacant for more than 60 consecutive days. |
 | Property is unoccupied if vacant for more than 60 consecutive days. |
Table updated March 2025
When would I need unoccupied home insurance?
Here are some common scenarios where you might leave your home unoccupied for long enough that it could affect your insurance.
- Leaving your home empty while travelling. If you're planning an extended holiday, there's probably a high likelihood that you'll exceed your insurer's maximum unoccupied limit. For cover to continue, make sure you contact your insurer and notify them of your plans before you depart.
- Leaving your home empty while you renovate. Living in your house while it's being renovated can be stressful and far from practical, so moving out for a few months while work is completed may be the best solution. Not only will your home insurance cover be cancelled if you're away for an extended period, but keep in mind that home insurance commonly won't cover claims that arise because of the renovations.
- Leaving a house vacant while trying to sell it or rent it out. If you plan to leave the property vacant while you either look to sell it or try to find new tenants to rent it out, check with your insurer to find out how this will affect your policy. While many insurers will cover unoccupied homes for up to 60 or 90 days, there are some landlord insurance policies that require you to notify the insurer each time your home is left vacant due to a change of tenant.
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Is there an Insurance Company that will insure an unoccupied home belonging to my deceased father. I am one of the executors and we cannot sell the home until 6 months after probate. This must be a fairly common situation, but so far, no insurance company will offer a policy. Can you advise please.
Many insurers do offer unoccupied insurance, but you’ll often have to pay an excess in the event of a claim. You might find it helpful to work with a broker to narrow down your policy choices.