Specialist property insurance
Probate House Insurance
Cover for a property left empty during probate, arranged for executors, administrators and solicitors.
About this cover
When a homeowner dies, their property may be left empty while the estate is settled. Existing home insurance can restrict cover after a policy-specific period of unoccupancy. We arrange probate house insurance for executors, administrators and solicitors, with the term and protection selected for the estate's circumstances and subject to underwriting and policy conditions.
Who it's for
- Executors and administrators of an estate
- Solicitors and probate practitioners acting for an estate
- Beneficiaries responsible for an inherited property
- Families holding a home before sale, clearance or letting
What can be covered
- Buildings cover for a property left empty during probate
- Short-term 3, 6 and 12 month terms, extendable while probate continues
- Property owner's liability while the house is unoccupied
- Escape of water, fire, storm, theft and vandalism cover
- Contents cover where furniture and possessions remain in the property
- Cover that continues while the property is marketed for sale or let
- Adverse credit history and criminal convictions considered case by case
Insuring an empty property during estate administration
Probate house insurance considers an empty inherited property while the estate is administered, including where it is being prepared for sale or letting. Existing home insurance may have unoccupancy restrictions, so confirm the current arrangements rather than assuming cover continues unchanged.
What to have ready for your quote
- The deceased's estate name and your role, such as executor, administrator or solicitor acting for the estate.
- The property address, when it became empty and the expected administration or sale timescale.
- Construction, condition, rebuild cost and whether furniture or possessions remain.
- Security, keyholders, inspection arrangements, services, previous losses and planned works.
This is a request for an adviser to assess your property, not confirmation of insurance. Cover, limits, excesses and conditions are confirmed in the insurer's terms.
Your questions answered
Who should request the probate insurance quote?
The form captures the estate's name and the applicant's capacity, including executor, administrator, solicitor, beneficiary or another role. Tell us who owns the property and who is arranging cover. The adviser and insurer can then confirm the appropriate insured details; do not assume the policy should simply be in the applicant's personal name.
How long can probate property cover run?
You can request 3, 6 or 12 months of cover. Explain any uncertainty about estate administration, sale or future occupation. If the plans or timescale change, discuss the cover before it expires; an extension or replacement is subject to the insurer's terms.
Can contents left in the house be considered?
Yes. Tell us whether furniture and possessions remain and the replacement value you want considered. Buildings and contents are separate cover decisions. The insurer will confirm what is covered, exclusions, limits and any security conditions.
What inspections and winter precautions are required?
Give the inspection, keyholder, security, water and heating arrangements you can maintain. Actual requirements depend on the proposed policy. Ask for the interval, records and services conditions to be confirmed; there is no universal inspection or drain-down rule.
What if the property is sold, let or renovated?
Tell us the plan when requesting the quote and report changes to the adviser. Occupation, tenancy or building works may change the insurance needed. Cover during marketing can be considered, but cancellation, changes and any refund depend on the individual policy terms.
Get a Probate House Insurance quote
Tell us about your property and a specialist adviser will come back to you with options.
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