Home Insurance, 90 days unoccupancy period

[Andy MacD]

Got my CMC home insurance renewal in and noted that their advertised “automatic” 90 day unoccupancy period is now 60 days unless you state you want more. Having done that premium has jumped from £195 to £259. If you have CMC cover beware as I almost missed that on the renewal papers.

Now looking for 90 day unoccupied cover, anyone got that and which which insurer?

Thanks

 

[MisterB]

Got my CMC home insurance renewal in and noted that their advertised “automatic” 90 day unoccupancy period is now 60 days unless you state you want more. Having done that premium has jumped from £195 to £259. If you have CMC cover beware as I almost missed that on the renewal papers.

Now looking for 90 day unoccupied cover, anyone got that and which which insurer?

Thanks

cant you get someone (family member) to stay over for a couple of nights, get them to make a couple of landline phone calls to prove the house was 'occupied'?

 

[Andy MacD]

I did think of that, it is kind of gaming the system though. Could lead to an interesting conversation should the house be a total loss and they tried to use that clause to get out if, or reduce, payment.

 

[MisterB]

I did think of that, it is kind of gaming the system though. Could lead to an interesting conversation should the house be a total loss and they tried to use that clause to get out if, or reduce, payment.

i understand your point, but is it any different to you going back home and staying for a couple of nights? how would/could you prove you were there? so long as the house hasnt been unoccupied for longer than two months then surely it would be ok, but of course we are talking about insurance companies, so why not ask them??? if you could get someone to stop over or check the house regularly then it might be deemed acceptable by them.

 

[Minxy]

I've just been doing this very exercise to see if I can get a policy with 90 days unoccupied provision as our current insurer doesn't cover more than 60 days.

I've delved into the policies from the quotes on a comparison site, which doesn't give the number of days unoccupied on the quote generator , and they are 31 days and 60 days, on the last one I looked at, Swinton, I found this in their policy docs so just stopping for a couple of nights is unlikely to work with any of them.

Unoccupied
We consider your home to be unoccupied when it is not lived in and not used overnight by you or your family for more than 60 days in
a row.
By lived in we mean has been slept in for 5 consecutive nights every month or 2 consecutive nights every week. Regular visits to the property externally or internally and occasional overnight stays by you or someone with your permission will not constitute normal occupancy of the property

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[JMCotswolds]

There are a few insurance providers mentioned in this thread from last year: https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/90-day-home-insurance.255267/

 

[MisterB]

so for companies allowing 60 days 'unoccupied' - the first 50 days house unoccupied, then family member stays for 5 consecutive nights = 55 nights 'occupied' - then next 35 nights 'empty' (but still within the parameters) you then return = total of 90 nights you needed????

or any permutation of the above??

when we have had void periods in any of the houses we let out - our insurance company asks thet we visit the property 2 or 3 times per week, no real stipulation or evidence to prove (both ways)

 

[VXman]

Just rent the house out as a holiday home while you're away. Win win.

 

[62272]

There was a similar thread earlier this year which stated that M&S home insurance was 90 days, dont know how true that is??

 

[Bolti]

M and s insurance still 90 days unoccupancy cover

https://bank.marksandspencer.com/insurance/home-insurance/

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[Bolti]

Lv will cover over 60 days but you are required to have someone drop in weekly and the heating to be drained or kept at 13 degrees.

 

[gus-lopez]

Is unoccupied insurance still available covering everything?

Does make me wonder how it all works here in spain as there are 3,6 million vacational properties only used for 2> 6 weeks each year. they aren't all uninsured.

 

[Puddleduck]

I've just been doing this very exercise to see if I can get a policy with 90 days unoccupied provision as our current insurer doesn't cover more than 60 days.

I've delved into the policies from the quotes on a comparison site, which doesn't give the number of days unoccupied on the quote generator , and they are 31 days and 60 days, on the last one I looked at, Swinton, I found this in their policy docs so just stopping for a couple of nights is unlikely to work with any of them.

Unoccupied
We consider your home to be unoccupied when it is not lived in and not used overnight by you or your family for more than 60 days in
a row.
By lived in we mean has been slept in for 5 consecutive nights every month or 2 consecutive nights every week. Regular visits to the property externally or internally and occasional overnight stays by you or someone with your permission will not constitute normal occupancy of the property

When Martin's brother went to New Zealand for 6 months (to visit his son) I stayed at his house for 7 nights every month to keep his insurance valid.

 

[Andy MacD]

CMC have now offered a broker version of the LV plus policy so better cover than the AVIVA offering with 90 days. Will check out M&S, thanks Chazzer924

 

[62272]

When Martin's brother went to New Zealand for 6 months (to visit his son) I stayed at his house for 7 nights every month to keep his insurance valid.

Your worships

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[solaris]

Safeguard, 90 days

 

[Bobandfay]

M&S home insurance cover 90 days

 

[Minxy]

so for companies allowing 60 days 'unoccupied' - the first 50 days house unoccupied, then family member stays for 5 consecutive nights = 55 nights 'occupied' - then next 35 nights 'empty' (but still within the parameters) you then return = total of 90 nights you needed????

or any permutation of the above??

Pretty much.

when we have had void periods in any of the houses we let out - our insurance company asks thet we visit the property 2 or 3 times per week, no real stipulation or evidence to prove (both ways)

Insurance for rental property is different.

Just rent the house out as a holiday home while you're away. Win win.

Different insurance so you'd have to cancel your original policy and take out another which would mean lots of regs to comply with (gas cert, elec cert etc).

Lv will cover over 60 days but you are required to have someone drop in weekly and the heating to be drained or kept at 13 degrees.

Is unoccupied insurance still available covering everything?

Not necessarily, sometimes if you go over the 'usual' length, eg 60 days, you may be able to extend it but the amount of cover you get is severely reduced, we found this out last time I was looking to extend ours to 60 days, I put the info on this thread:

Broken Link Removed

Does make me wonder how it all works here in spain as there are 3,6 million vacational properties only used for 2> 6 weeks each year. they aren't all uninsured.

Again different insurance for holiday homes.

 

[Minxy]

I am loosing the will to live! I've spent hours trying to find a 90 day unoccupancy home insurance policy and it is a blooming nightmare. I've tried M&S and LV and both come back with stupidly high quotes - I pay less than £300 for 60 days away and they want more than double! I wish the comparison sites would give the option of asking this when you use them but they don't so it means going through the policies to see what is permitted and most don't give more than 31 days, some 60 and trying to root out a 90 day one that isn't astronomical is night on impossible.

So far the only one I've found that is any way sensible is CMC at £444.98 but that still means joining the club too so is really £500 ... so over £200 for an extra 30 days cover, madness.

Before I go completely insane can anyone tell me of any insurer that covers up 90 days away from home without stupid requirements (ie someone has to sleep in the home for 5 days each month), or reduced cover for the additional time.

 

[Trevor Wbm]

I've just Googled 'Unnocupied House Insurance' and got dozens of options.

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[Minxy]

I've just Googled 'Unnocupied House Insurance' and got dozens of options.

So did I but that's unoccupied as is not lived in at all usually, mainly meant for those not usually lived in/empty/derelict etc, not just you leaving your normal home unoccupied due to you being away on holiday. If you can find one that does cover a normal home I'd be more than happy to have a shuftie!

 

[Andy MacD]

Why don’t you try a broker, rather than direct to company. Brokers can often get special terms we cant.

 

[Yorick]

I did think of that, it is kind of gaming the system though. Could lead to an interesting conversation should the house be a total loss and they tried to use that clause to get out if, or reduce, payment.

Make an anonymous call and see how many nights they'd need a family member to stay for.

 

[Minxy]

Why don’t you try a broker, rather than direct to company. Brokers can often get special terms we cant.

Already tried some, NFU was my last one and they warned me that their prices have gone up a lot in the last 2 months as they underwrite them, I enquired as to the unoccupancy limit and it's still 60 days. I also tried Lifesure who my lodges are insured with, 31 days for the policies they sell.

Any suggestions on who to ring?

 

[Bramidan]

Have a look at “Intersure” we have our Turkish Property with them and I moved my UK house to them as well.

No matter how you try to abide by the rules you will still get screwed. They wonder why insurance claims are “inflated” because we know you bast…s take the premium and then won’t payout for the full claim.

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[Andy MacD]

Make an anonymous call and see how many nights they'd need a family member to stay for.

I renewed with CMC through Devitt brokers. Policy is with LV.

Yeh I could have tried to game the system and have someone stay but I would rather comply with the terms of he policy and know it covers me than game it hoping that if the worst happens the policy will stand. Think of the value of your house compared to an additional £40 on the premium. I just write the cost against my holiday. Two nights in a free Aire and the cost is covered.

Just think how fortunate we are to have this problem and be able to manage it and enjoy up to 90 days away when many don’t have enough food to put on the table.

 

[Andy MacD]

Any suggestions on who to ring?

Try to google a local insurance broker in your area. Lots of small companies around who may be able to help.

 

[gib1772]

Got my CMC home insurance renewal in and noted that their advertised “automatic” 90 day unoccupancy period is now 60 days unless you state you want more. Having done that premium has jumped from £195 to £259. If you have CMC cover beware as I almost missed that on the renewal papers.

Now looking for 90 day unoccupied cover, anyone got that and which which insurer?

Thanks

Hi i had the same thing with cms and when I question it they replied that I was covered for 90 days and I have kept the reply

 

[Land Yachties]

I am loosing the will to live! I've spent hours trying to find a 90 day unoccupancy home insurance policy and it is a blooming nightmare. I've tried M&S and LV and both come back with stupidly high quotes - I pay less than £300 for 60 days away and they want more than double! I wish the comparison sites would give the option of asking this when you use them but they don't so it means going through the policies to see what is permitted and most don't give more than 31 days, some 60 and trying to root out a 90 day one that isn't astronomical is night on impossible.

So far the only one I've found that is any way sensible is CMC at £444.98 but that still means joining the club too so is really £500 ... so over £200 for an extra 30 days cover, madness.

Before I go completely insane can anyone tell me of any insurer that covers up 90 days away from home without stupid requirements (ie someone has to sleep in the home for 5 days each month), or reduced cover for the additional time.

We are with Home Protect. 90 day unoccupied cover. Does not require anyone to stay in or check the property whilst away. The only issue to note is that the cover does not include burst pipes or water damage. If the house has suffered a burglary there must be physical evidence of the break in

 

[Mikeco]

Got my CMC home insurance renewal in and noted that their advertised “automatic” 90 day unoccupancy period is now 60 days unless you state you want more. Having done that premium has jumped from £195 to £259. If you have CMC cover beware as I almost missed that on the renewal papers.

Now looking for 90 day unoccupied cover, anyone got that and which which insurer?

Thanks

Just had my renewal quote from CMC and it’s gone down from £170 to £134 and it includes 90 days unoccupied.

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