Did you know that leaving home for an extended time can mean your property is not completely covered by your current home insurance policy? According to your insurance provider, your home may be classified as “unoccupied” if you are away for a specific time.
In this case, an unoccupied home insurance policy may be needed to ensure adequate coverage while you are gone.
Article Key Takeaways
- If your home is unoccupied for an extended period, your home may not be covered under your insurance policy.
- In such cases, you may need to purchase additional protection known as “unoccupied home insurance”.
- For a home to be classified as “unoccupied,” you would have to be away for an extended period, usually from 30 to 90 days.
- Note that unoccupied and vacant homes are not the same. An unoccupied home means you plan on returning to the home while a vacant home means you have no intention of returning.
What Is Unoccupied Home Insurance?
An unoccupied home insurance policy offers added financial protection against loss or damage to a property that is classified as unoccupied or uninhabited.
A standard home insurance policy will compensate you against perils like damage from fire, water and flooding, theft, vandalism, or liability when you are either home or away for a short time. But your policy won’t offer the same level of protection if you are away for an extended period.
For instance, if you are gone for a couple of months and a fire breaks out, unoccupied home insurance would cover you when your standard home insurance policy likely won’t. You can buy unoccupied home insurance as an add-on or separate policy.
When Is A Home Considered Unoccupied?
To be classified as “unoccupied,” you would have to be away for an extended period, usually from 30 to 90 days.
During this period, your home insurance may be void. The exact time for which your home would be deemed unoccupied depends on your insurance provider. Check your current home insurance policy to verify your insurer’s limit.
Is There A Difference Between ‘Unoccupied’ And ‘Vacant’?
Vacant and unoccupied can mean two different things to an insurance company. A vacant home is one in which the homeowner has no intention of returning and the furniture has been removed. An unoccupied home, on the other hand, means the homeowner has intentions of returning and the property is still adequately furnished for occupancy.
Why Doesn’t My Regular Home Insurance Cover An Unoccupied Home?
An unoccupied home poses a greater risk for your insurance provider compared to an occupied home. For example, if a pipe bursts or a fire breaks out when you’re not around, the response time to deal with this issue will be much longer. This can lead to extensive damage that may have been mitigated if you were home to deal with it.
Further, there is a greater risk of theft and burglary, especially if it is known that you are away. This provides thieves with an opportunity to break in without the worry of you being nearby to interrupt.
As a result of the heightened risk, insurance companies typically exclude these homes from their standard policies.
When Do You Need Unoccupied Home Insurance?
There are plenty of situations where you may need to leave your home for an extended period. In this case, you’ll need an unoccupied home insurance policy:
- Taking an extended holiday to travel
- Spending the summer in your vacation home
- Vacating your home while it’s under renovation
- Temporarily moving in with a family member who is ill or injured and requires assistance
- Spending time in a medical facility to receive treatment
Any situation that takes you away from home for more than a month may require a phone call to your insurance provider to see if extended coverage on top of your standard policy may be needed.
How To Qualify For Unoccupied Home Insurance
Most insurance providers will offer unoccupied home insurance. However, you may be required to follow certain rules for the policy to remain in effect. More specifically, you will have to ensure that the property is still maintained while you are away. This can include cutting the grass and ensuring the mail is picked up (or paused).
Every insurer may have specific requirements regarding how the home is taken care of while it is unoccupied. You’d be well-advised to get in touch with your insurance company to find out the exact details before you leave for an extended time.
How To Avoid Or Save On Unoccupied Home Insurance
The key to leaving your home unoccupied is to keep it as safe as possible. By doing so, you may be able to save on unoccupied home insurance premiums or may even be able to avoid it altogether. Here are some ways to do that:
Get A House Sitter
If you know someone who you trust enough to stay in your home while you are away, you may be able to avoid having to take out a separate unoccupied home insurance policy. With someone in the home taking your place, the home will no longer be deemed unoccupied, and therefore, your standard policy will suffice.
Install A Security System
Before you leave, consider having a security system installed in your home to keep it extra safe. Some people may become aware that your home is unoccupied, which can present an opportune time for thieves to break in.
To deter them, install a security system that may consist of a monitored alarm or motion-sensor lights. Not only with this keep your home more secure, but it may also reduce the premiums paid on an insurance policy.
Have Someone Pick Up Your Mail
Piled-up newspapers and overflowing mailboxes are sure signs that nobody’s home. To avoid this, either have someone pick up your mail or newspaper deliveries regularly, or put a temporary stop to them until you return.
Have Your Grass Cut
Hire a landscaping company or a neighbourhood teenager to mow the lawn every week to keep the property in good condition and to avoid making it look like your home is vacant.
Learn how to cancel your home insurance policy.
How To Purchase Unoccupied Home Insurance
If you’re away from your home for a lengthy period and need an unoccupied home insurance policy. There are several places you can go to purchase a policy. For example, your bank, credit union, insurance companies, insurance brokers, or online aggregates for a quote.
Otherwise, you can simply call your current agency that holds the home insurance policy for your primary residence for an add-on or separate policy.
You’ll need to inform your insurance provider:
- How long you plan to be away from your home.
- Reason for leaving your home unoccupied.
- Measures you’re taking to ensure it is maintained and kept safe.
It should be noted that this type of policy may be more expensive than a standard home insurance policy. That’s because of the added risk of an unoccupied home versus one in which homeowners are always present.
Final Thoughts
Before you head out for an extended holiday or if you planning to be away from home for longer than a month or two, you should give your insurance company a call. It’s important to check if there are any restrictions or limitations on how your current home insurance policy will work to cover you.
If the time away from home means your current policy won’t cover you, then you may need to take out additional insurance. This will help ensure that you are covered in case anything happens while your home is deemed unoccupied.
Unoccupied & Vacant Home Insurance FAQs
How long can you leave your home unoccupied for insurance?
What do insurance companies consider a vacant home?
- The house is no longer lived in.
- The owners never intended to live in the house.
- The house will be unoccupied for an extended period (length depends on the provider).
