Specialist property insurance
Unoccupied Property Insurance
Short-term and annual cover for empty properties — 3, 6 or 12 month terms available.
About this cover
Existing home or landlord policies can restrict cover after a policy-specific period of unoccupancy. We arrange specialist insurance for empty properties, with 3, 6 or 12 month terms to match your circumstances. The insured events, limits and vacancy conditions depend on the insurer and the protection selected.
Who it's for
- Landlords between tenancies
- Executors dealing with probate properties
- Owners with properties on the market
- Investors holding property before refurbishment
What can be covered
- Buildings cover for properties empty beyond 30 days
- Short-term 3, 6 and 12 month policy terms
- Property owner's liability while the property is vacant
- Escape of water, fire, storm and vandalism cover
- Options for properties awaiting sale, probate or letting
- Contents cover for furnished unoccupied properties
Cover for an empty home or investment property
A property between tenants, awaiting sale or left vacant during works needs its empty period considered explicitly. Existing policies can restrict cover after a policy-specific period of unoccupancy. Tell us when the vacancy began, why the building is empty and what is planned next.
What to have ready for your quote
- The empty-since date, reason for vacancy and whether you need 3, 6 or 12 months of cover.
- The address, construction, condition and rebuild cost, plus contents that remain.
- Who holds keys, security measures, inspection arrangements and the status of water and heating.
- Previous losses, planned works and any expected sale, letting or occupation date.
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
Can I arrange insurance for 3, 6 or 12 months?
GMG offers quote requests for each of these terms. Choose a term that reflects the expected vacancy and discuss the options if the timescale changes. The length of cover and the insured events are separate decisions: a shorter-term example may provide a more limited level of protection.
How often must an empty property be inspected?
There is no inspection interval that applies to every policy. Tell us what inspections you can arrange and ask the adviser to confirm the proposed insurer's requirements, including any records to keep. Do not assume a fortnightly or monthly visit is sufficient without checking the wording.
Should the water be drained or the heating left on?
Describe the current arrangements and ask what the proposed policy requires. Heating, water isolation, draining and security conditions can vary by insurer, season and property. Follow the conditions agreed for your policy rather than a general rule.
Does empty-property insurance cover renovation work?
Disclose any refurbishment, structural changes and planned works before cover is arranged. Empty-property cover should not be assumed to include contract works or materials. A renovation quote can assess the existing building, works and contractor arrangements together.
How is the cost worked out?
The vacancy period, reason it is empty, protection requested, inspections, security, rebuild cost and location affect the quote. The quote page separates indicative examples by term and level of cover. The insurer confirms the actual premium, applicable tax and conditions after assessing your property.
Get a Unoccupied Property Insurance quote
Tell us about your property and a specialist adviser will come back to you with options.
Start your quoteRelated cover
Probate House Insurance
Cover for a property left empty during probate, arranged for executors, administrators and solicitors.
Property Renovation Insurance
Cover for properties undergoing refurbishment, conversion or structural works.
Non-Standard Home Insurance
Flexible home insurance for unusual construction, listed buildings, flood or subsidence history and other difficult-to-place risks.