Insure the empty property properly
Convert the policy to unoccupied property cover.
Standard home insurance usually lapses after 30–60 days empty, exactly when a claim is most likely.
- How long it takes
- An hour
- Typical cost
- £25–£70 a month for unoccupied cover
- What you need before you start
- The current policy number
- The date the property became empty
Ring the existing insurer first. Many will extend cover if you tell them, and some will not.
Expect conditions: regular inspections, water drained down in winter, heating at a minimum temperature.
Keep a note of each visit and date. Insurers ask for it after a claim.
Council tax is often discounted or exempt on an empty property for a period. Ask the council.
General information, not legal advice. Last reviewed 19 August 2026 by Simon D Campbell. Applies to England and Wales.