Insurance for Unoccupied House

[quelquod]

Any recommendations for an insurance policy to cover an unoccupied and empty house during the period whilst it’s on the market? Current insurer has a limit of 90 days which will likely be too short to cover up to exchange according to the estate agent.

[kiloran]

I used Ceta Insurance last year, with a 180 day validity.
Can't say it's a recommendation, paid for the insurance, nothing untoward happened and then it lapsed.

https://www.ceta.co.uk/

--kiloran

[88V8]

Any recommendations for an insurance policy to cover an unoccupied and empty house during the period whilst it’s on the market? Current insurer has a limit of 90 days which will likely be too short to cover up to exchange according to the estate agent.

I had the opposite problem when we moved here. In an unplanned fashion, we had two houses for six months and the one we were moving to was unoccupied.
I got over the 90 day limit by saying that I would be sleeping here overnight at least once a week, and I did.
So if that's practicable for you?

V8

[didds]

I got over the 90 day limit by saying that I would be sleeping here overnight at least once a week, and I did.
So if that's practicable for you?

V8

which was basically the solution I was going to say too.

and who is going to be there to actually check you have - for what that is worth. Although one night in ninety is not exactly onerous.

I suppose it is a proverbial pain of the house is 300 miles from where you normally live of course.

[quelquod]

I got over the 90 day limit by saying that I would be sleeping here overnight at least once a week, and I did.
So if that's practicable for you?

As I mentioned the house is empty - no bed, not even carpeted, so maybe difficult to convince someone ?

[Lootman]

I got over the 90 day limit by saying that I would be sleeping here overnight at least once a week, and I did.
So if that's practicable for you?

As I mentioned the house is empty - no bed, not even carpeted, so maybe difficult to convince someone ?

But what do you really need? When I did this (for 8 months) I took a camp bed and some food.

I was not living there but I certainly "occupied" the property within the rules.

[MyNameIsUrl]

I have a policy in place at the moment for the same reason with Modus underwriting. It requires a visit at least every 7 days, and in winter the heating set at 15 or the systems drained. It cost about £100 on top of the existing buildings policy which was in place when the house was occupied.

[bungeejumper]

But what do you really need? When I did this (for 8 months) I took a camp bed and some food.

I've camped in houses (and a flat) with a camp bed and a camping gaz stove. When we moved into our present house it had holes in the roof, dangerous ceilings in several rooms, and half the floorboards were out.

We've just finished selling a house which we had kept unoccupied for two years. (A lengthy project.) Getting insurance wasn't a problem, but it's worth checking that the policy doesn't set impracticable demands. Such as sealing up the letter box and turning off the water and electricity every time you leave the premises for a few hours. (Tough on the fridge, and forget the burglar alarm.) Or installing window locks even high up on the second floor, where even a cat burglar wouldn't be tempted to risk it.

BJ

[88V8]

I got over the 90 day limit by saying that I would be sleeping here overnight at least once a week, and I did.
So if that's practicable for you?

As I mentioned the house is empty - no bed, not even carpeted, so maybe difficult to convince someone ?

I had a sleeping bag.
If you're selling the place, you'll need to visit to keep it fresh etc, so...

Btw, I would never market an empty house.
If there were some very good reason to empty it - and it would have to be a very good reason - I would buy furniture & rugs & pictures & knicknacks to make it looked inhabited. When we sold our parents' house, there was one empty bedroom, I took an inflatable mattress and bedding and bought a bed and wardrobe in a charity shop.
Nothing knocks the price like selling a place empty.

The mattress had a slow puncture but fortunately no one sat on it.

V8

[elkay]

I've used Home Protect for 2 unoccupied houses in the past year. No unreasonable requirements that I can recall, and much cheaper than my brother's brokerage could quote. No claims required to date, so that aspect is unproven.

lk

[DrFfybes]

I got over the 90 day limit by saying that I would be sleeping here overnight at least once a week, and I did.
So if that's practicable for you?

As I mentioned the house is empty - no bed, not even carpeted, so maybe difficult to convince someone ?

When mum's was on the market her existing insurer simply required regular visits. We asked a neighour to pop in once a week. Heating was set to 4C.

Paul