Unoccupied home insurance – can you get cover?

There are many reasons you might need to leave your home unoccupied for an extended period of time – perhaps you’re heading away on a holiday, moving out temporarily to undergo renovations, or even preparing to sell. Whatever the reason, it’s important to know that some insurance providers have rules around unoccupied homes, which could impact your cover. So, how does unoccupied home insurance work?

What is an unoccupied home?

A home is considered to be ‘unoccupied’ if there hasn’t been anyone living in it for an extended period of time. The length of time varies between insurance providers, but is typically 60 consecutive days or more. That means if you are away for a long period of time, this could impact your home and contents insurance cover.

Is your home covered when unoccupied?

The maximum time you can leave your home unoccupied and still receive full coverage will depend on your home insurance policy. Check the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or contact your provider directly to confirm their definition of ‘unoccupied’ and to see what time limits apply under your policy.

If you are away for longer than the specified unoccupied period on your policy, then you could potentially void your home insurance coverage, have restrictions when making a claim or pay an additional excess.

Why is leaving your home unoccupied a concern for insurers?

When your home is left unoccupied, the level of risk generally increases for a range of events including vandalism, theft and weather-related perils.

When you are at home you can look after your property if a problem occurs, such as by moving outdoor furniture in the event of a storm or getting a burst pipe fixed before it causes extensive damage. Being present in your home may also make it less of a target for thieves or vandals, or limit the amount of damage that could be caused.

So, in order to minimise this risk, with regards to unoccupied home insurance, many providers will apply terms and conditions to leaving your home unoccupied for a certain period of time.

Can you insure an unoccupied home?

If you are planning to be away from your home for an extended period of time and you want to keep your cover active while you are gone, consider contacting your provider and discussing your options.

Some providers will continue your cover as long as you have advised them and take additional steps to protect your property while you are away. This could include getting someone to check on your home regularly while you are gone and collecting your mail, and keeping your lawn and garden tidy.

The terms and conditions concerning unoccupied home insurance are usually outlined in your policy documents.

Alternatively, you could consider getting a house sitter while you are away. If you nominate a house sitter to live in your home for at least two consecutive nights, some providers will not consider your home to be ‘unoccupied’ and you can avoid paying an additional excess in the event of a claim. Check the terms and conditions with your provider.

If you do not currently have a home insurance policy and want cover while your home is unoccupied for an extended period, you will need to notify your chosen provider so they can factor this into your quote.

When would your home be unoccupied?

There are some common scenarios where leaving your home unoccupied could lead to issues with your insurance. These may include:

Travelling abroad: If you leave your home for an extended trip away, you may need to contact your insurance provider and see whether your coverage will be impacted.

Medical treatment: If you fall ill and need to leave your home to receive treatment, it could be a good idea for you, or someone with power of attorney who can act on your behalf, to notify your provider to see what cover options are available and if other arrangements need to be made.

Multiple residences: If you own another resilience such as a holiday home and you spend significant time at both this and your primary residence, you may want to discuss this arrangement with your provider to ensure you have adequate cover for both properties.

Renovating: If you are renovating your home and need to leave while work is being done, then consider checking with your provider whether they will cover you while you are gone. It could also be a good idea to check whether damage arising from renovations is included in your policy.

Renting or selling: There may be periods of time when your rental home is empty while you look for tenants, or while you are repairing or cleaning the property. Your property could also be empty while you are trying to sell it. You may need to contact your home insurance or landlord insurance provider to get coverage during this time.

What is an unoccupied excess?

An unoccupied excess is an amount that you will have to pay if your house has been vacant for more than a certain period of time – potentially 60 days, but this could vary – if you need to make a claim on your home insurance. This is because of the greater financial risk to your insurance provider if your home is unoccupied. Being vacant may leave it more susceptible to break-ins or damage from vandals, and likewise, it might mean that an issue like a burst pipe, it left unnoticed for a period of time, could cause greater damage than it you were at home to see it and put a stop to it.

How can you keep your home occupied?

According to Suncorp insurance, one way to ensure your house is ‘occupied’ and to avoid an unoccupied excess is to nominate a house sitter while you’re gone. Per Suncorp’s policy, this person – be they a friend or relative – would only need to stay there for two nights in order to reset the timer on your property being unoccupied. Other insurance providers may have other requirements, so it’s advisable to check with your own provider to be certain. Suncorp also suggests adding this person as an authorised representative on your policy, which can allow them to make a claim while you’re gone.

What do you need to do before going away on holiday?

If you plan on leaving your home for a period of time, and want to make sure you’re prepared, there are some precautions you can take to help put your mind at ease. Whether it’s contacting your insurance provider about unoccupied home insurance, or merely making it look less obvious that nobody’s home, some things you can do include:

• Make sure your home and contents insurance policies are up to date
• Ask a trusted friend or family member to check in on the house now and again
• Contact your insurance provider and make them aware that you’ll be away, telling them your travel dates
• Consider turning off water mains, in case a pipe bursts while you’re away
• Secure outdoor furniture and make sure doors and windows are properly closed
• Redirect your mail and other deliveries, or ask a trusted person to collect them
• Secure valuable contents in your home
• Organise to have someone mow or take care of the yard if necessary

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