Unoccupied property insurance

Insuring an Empty Home When the Owner Is in Care

When a loved one moves into long-term care, their home is often left unoccupied. If you hold a Power of Attorney or act as a Deputy, you have a legal duty to safeguard their assets – and that includes ensuring their property remains properly insured.

Why standard cover may not be enough

Many people assume that an existing home insurance policy will continue to provide protection. 

Unfortunately, most standard home insurance policies become invalid after just 30 days of vacancy. Others remain in force but remove essential cover, such as theft, escape of water, or vandalism.

This creates two problems for attorneys and deputies:

• A claim could be rejected, or there could be gaps in cover, leaving you personally liable for an uninsured loss.
• Strict new conditions (such as weekly inspections, inspection reports or draining water systems) may be unrealistic to meet.

That’s why arranging Unoccupied Home Insurance is so important. 

Key steps to take as an Attorney or Deputy

If you are responsible for an empty property, these steps will help you meet your duties and avoid common pitfalls:

1. Review the existing insurance
   Check whether the current policy is still valid now the home is unoccupied. Always notify the insurer of the change in circumstances.
2. Confirm what’s covered
   Ask the insurer, in writing, what protection remains in place and what cover has been removed after the property becomes empty. Don’t assume cover continues.
3. Arrange specialist cover if needed
   Switching to a dedicated Unoccupied Home Insurance policy is usually the safest option. These policies are specifically designed for empty properties and give you the option to arrange broader cover that protects both the home and your liability as Attorney or Deputy.
4. Check the policyholder’s name
   The insurance must remain in the homeowner’s name, even if you are arranging it on their behalf as Attorney or Deputy.
5. Understand the conditions
   Every unoccupied policy has requirements – such as regular inspections, keeping the property in good repair, or turning off water supplies, or keeping the heating on in winter. Choose a policy you can realistically comply with.
6. Plan for ongoing maintenance
   Empty homes can deteriorate quickly. Simple issues like overgrown gardens or loose roof tiles can increase risks and even affect insurance, as your insurer will expect you to keep the property tidy and in a good state of repair, redirect mail and more.

Why choose specialist cover?

Consider a Unoccupied Home Insurance policy that provides:

• Clear, realistic inspection requirements.
• Flexible terms (3, 6, or 12 months, with easy renewal if needed).
• No cancellation fees and pro-rata refunds (subject to no claims).
• Options to include contents and key risks such as theft, escape of water, and malicious damage.

This makes it much easier for attorneys and deputies to meet their obligations with confidence.

Get a Quote Today

If you are acting under a Power of Attorney or Deputyship and need to protect an empty property, specialist cover is essential.

Insuristic provides options for broad cover either on a short-term insurance basis or an annual policy. 

Plus, unlike many insurance brokers, they do not charge if you need to cancel early.  Provided you haven’t claimed, you would receive a pro-rata refund for any unused cover.

Visit Insuring an Empty Home When the Owner Is in Care to get a quote.