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Unoccupied PropertyInsurance

Unoccupied Property Insurance

Cover for empty property, between tenancies, during probate, awaiting sale or undergoing renovation.

Cover for empty property, between tenancies, during probate, awaiting sale or undergoing renovation.

Cover while empty
Theft & malicious damage
Contents left behind
Compare from 20+ Trusted Insurers

Cover for empty properties across the UK

Speak to a specialist 0330 027 0996

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Square Pegs Logo with transparent background
Mi Speciality logo with transparent background
DOA logo
Commercial Express logo with a red shield-like icon and white curved stripes to the left of the company name in black text
Aviva logo with a dark blue abstract square icon and the word โ€œAVIVAโ€ in bold uppercase blue letters.
Logo with the word ABACUS in blue surrounded by colorful abacus beads on horizontal lines.
Zurich Insurance logo with a stylized white โ€œZโ€ inside a blue circle and the word โ€œZURICHโ€ in blue capital letters.
Jensten Insurance Brokers logo with stylized dark blue text and two small orange rectangles inside the word โ€œJENSTEN.โ€
Iprism logo with lowercase black text and a multicolored paper-plane style icon on the upper right
MODUS logo with three blue vertical bars forming an abstract icon to the left of the brand name in blue uppercase letters.
Pink circular logo with the word โ€œcorinโ€ in lowercase white letters at the center.
Qunderwriting logo with a red circular โ€œQโ€ icon followed by grey lowercase text spelling โ€œunderwritingโ€.
NBS Underwriting logo with overlapping hexagon outlines in yellow and green beside navy text.
Gresham logo with gray text and an orange abstract flower-like icon on the right.
Aqueous Underwriting logo with gradient blue, green and purple text on a transparent background.
Arya Underwriting Services logo with stylized golden figure and lowercase โ€œaryaโ€ text on a transparent background
Nelson Policies at Lloyd's logo
Instant Underwriting logo with a stylized purple speed stripe icon and modern uppercase text

What is unoccupied property insurance?

Unoccupied property insurance covers a building that is empty or not being lived in. Standard home and landlord policies restrict or withdraw cover once a property has been vacant for a set period, leaving a gap this cover fills.

Most policies restrict cover after around 30 to 45 consecutive days of the property being empty, and many landlords only discover this after a claim is declined.

The right unoccupied cover depends on:

Why the property is empty
How long it will stay empty
Whether itโ€™s furnished
Security and inspection arrangements
Whether utilities are switched off
Property type and construction
A man getting into a car outside an office building

Is unoccupied property insurance right for your situation?

Is unoccupied property insurance right for your situation?

If a property is standing empty for any reason, a void period, a probate sale, a renovation or a stalled chain, this is the cover built for that situation.

If a property is standing empty for any reason, a void period, a probate sale, a renovation or a stalled chain, this is the cover built for that situation.

Between Tenancies

Void periods where a rental sits empty while you find the next tenant.

Probate & Inherited

A property standing empty while an estate is settled or sold.

Awaiting Sale

An empty property on the market, including chains that have stalled.

Under Renovation

A property empty while work is carried out, often for months at a time.

Empty Commercial Units

Shops, offices and industrial units between commercial tenants.

Seasonal & Second Homes

Properties left unoccupied for long stretches of the year.

What could put your empty property at risk?

What could put your empty property at risk?

Escape of water and theft dominate empty-property claims, because with nobody present a small problem has weeks to become a large one.

Escape of water and theft dominate empty-property claims, because with nobody present a small problem has weeks to become a large one.

Fire spreading undetected, with no one present to raise the alarm and often no working alarm system.

Empty period office floor with tall windows and a wooden floor.

How could a claim affect your property?

How could a claim affect your property?

With no one at the property, damage is usually discovered late and costs more to put right. Here are four common scenarios and the cover that responds.

With no one at the property, damage is usually discovered late and costs more to put right. Here are four common scenarios and the cover that responds.

Fire

A fire goes unnoticed and spreads before anyone raises the alarm.

What cover may respond?

Unoccupied Buildings

Escape of Water

A burst pipe runs for weeks before anyone discovers it.

What cover may respond?

Unoccupied Buildings

Storm Damage

Thieves strip copper piping and the boiler from the property.

What cover may respond?

Theft & Malicious Damage

Visitor Injury

A contractor is injured while working at the empty property.

What cover may respond?

Property Ownersโ€™ Liability

A man getting into a car outside an office building

Who needs unoccupied property insurance?

If a property has been empty for more than about 30 days, your existing policy may already have restricted cover, often to fire and lightning only, with theft, escape of water and malicious damage excluded.

This cover may be suitable for:

Landlords between tenancies
Executors handling a probate property
Owners of a property awaiting sale
Owners of empty commercial units
Landlords with student HMOs over summer
Owners of inherited property

Property been empty over 30 days?

Property been empty over 30 days?

Most policies restrict cover after around 30 to 45 days. Tell us now and weโ€™ll keep full protection in force.

Most policies restrict cover after around 30 to 45 days. Tell us now and weโ€™ll keep full protection in force.

White shopfront with a To Let sign in the window.

Cover built around an empty property

Cover built around an empty property

Unoccupied cover keeps full buildings protection in force while a property is empty, then adds theft, liability and contents cover that standard policies withdraw.

Unoccupied cover keeps full buildings protection in force while a property is empty, then adds theft, liability and contents cover that standard policies withdraw.

Unoccupied Buildings

Unoccupied Buildings

Full buildings cover that stays in force while the property is empty, rather than dropping to fire-only.


Property Ownersโ€™ Liability

Property Ownersโ€™ Liability

Protection if a contractor, agent or visitor is injured at the property while it stands empty.


Theft & Malicious Damage

Theft & Malicious Damage

Cover for stripping of copper, boilers and fittings, and for deliberate damage, often excluded once a property is empty.


Contents Cover

Contents Cover

Cover for any furnishings or appliances left in the property while it stands empty.


Loss of Rent

Loss of Rent

Helps replace income where a void period is extended by damage rather than by finding a tenant.


Legal Expenses

Legal Expenses

Legal protection for disputes, including removing unauthorised occupants.


Empty commercial floor with windows along one side.

Why choose us for unoccupied property insurance?

Empty property is declined or heavily restricted by most standard insurers. We place it with insurers who underwrite vacancy properly.

Specialist unoccupied insurers
Experienced UK advisers
Short and long-term vacancy cover
Cover for probate and inherited property
Cover during renovation and works
Residential and commercial empty property

How the quote process works

How the quote process works

Simple steps. Expert advice on the cover an empty property actually needs.

Simple steps. Expert advice on the cover an empty property actually needs.

1

Tell us about the property

Why itโ€™s empty, for how long, and whether work is planned.

2

Confirm your security measures

Inspections, alarms and whether utilities are turned off.

3

We compare specialist insurers

We search insurers who actively cover empty property.

4

Get covered and get your documents

Receive your policy documents, usually the same day.

We're with you all the way

UK-based specialist advisers
Access to specialist insurers
No obligation, just expert help

Renovating the property while itโ€™s empty?

Renovating the property while itโ€™s empty?

Building work changes the risk again, contract works cover protects the works themselves, which buildings cover alone wonโ€™t.

Building work changes the risk again, contract works cover protects the works themselves, which buildings cover alone wonโ€™t.

Empty commercial unit mid-refurbishment with bare walls and materials.

Trusted by thousands of businesses across the UK

Trusted by thousands of businesses across the UK

From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.

From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.

Unoccupied property insurance guides

Unoccupied property insurance guides

Practical advice on void periods, security conditions and staying covered.

Practical advice on void periods, security conditions and staying covered.

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Unoccupied property insurance FAQs

Unoccupied property insurance FAQs

Straight answers on void periods, conditions and cover.

Straight answers on void periods, conditions and cover.

It covers a building that is empty or not being lived in. Standard home and landlord policies restrict cover once a property has been vacant for a set period, and this fills that gap.

Still have questions?

Our advisers are here to help you find the right solution.