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Household insurance for a house that is empty (probate sale)

17 replies

KatyMac · 05/09/2020 12:13

My mum died and we are selling the house

The buildings and contents insurance won't cover vandalism or burglary so we need new insurance

which insurance company will insure an empty house?

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mouse70 · 05/09/2020 12:28

Towergate do unoccupied/probate House Insurance. Worth talking with present insurance company as they may be able to provide short term (12month) insurance while seeking probate. We did this with Lloyds who already insured Dads house. We informed them when he died and they set up the insurance but could only be for 12 months after that we had to arrange through Towergate

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Bargebill19 · 05/09/2020 12:35

Could also try co-op and age concern insurance. The latter we found to be really helpful and obviously used to this situation.

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iano · 05/09/2020 13:13

Tower gate are pretty good in my experience. Not cheap though

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Mrsladybirdface · 05/09/2020 14:38

Endsleigh do this, need to speak to someone though, can't do online

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beautifulxdisasters · 05/09/2020 14:42

Sorry for your loss Flowers

I had to insure an empty house for a few months a year or so ago and found it difficult to get a quote from anyone mainstream, the best I found was a company called Intelligent Insurance.

You may find the existing insurance company will put the cover in your name and cover the empty house for you while the house is being sold, but I'm guessing you may have tried that?

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BloodyCreateUsername · 05/09/2020 14:52

Just FYI if you have a solicitor handling probable than this is one of their jobs.

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PointersPlease · 05/09/2020 16:54

We did it with Higos Insurance

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Tulipvase · 05/09/2020 17:13

I found the existing insurer would cover an empty property for a set period, assuming certain criteria (heating etc) were met. After that, I just went with a broker.

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KatyMac · 05/09/2020 17:23

Nope the existing company have done from the death to the renewal but wont cover for leaks, vandalism or burglary any more....very cheap quote but...not sure what is covered!!

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YankeeDad · 05/09/2020 17:26

I would have thought that the most important risks to cover are the ones for which an "insured event" would be very expensive. I.e. if the house burns down, or flooding or a storm causes extensive damage, or if there is major subsidence.

But burglary would seem like a fairly low impact risk (even if a burglar got in, they would find nothing to steal so the only cost would be repairing the broken door or window).

Vandalism would, I suppose, be a bigger possible issue, but the insurance might have a low ceiling on the damage covered anyway, even if you can get it covered. So maybe more cost-effective to have something to deter vandals, e.g. maintain the property and maybe add lights that go on automatically if someone approaches the house at night, and even cameras or fake cameras that look real.

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nyoman · 05/09/2020 17:28

We use Adrian Flux. Weird name, I know. Prior to that we were using Direct line, but there are time limits on theirs, I think 12 months.

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nyoman · 05/09/2020 17:29

and I'm sorry about your mum Katymac Thanks

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MissPollyPops · 05/09/2020 18:39

Try sainsburys home insurance

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SabrinaThwaite · 05/09/2020 19:11

Also try Home Protect as they cover homes empty due to probate.

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Treehuggertastic · 05/09/2020 19:16

Any local broker should find a couple of options for you - you probably have to turn off the water and electricity and then record that you or a representative have checked on the property every 14 days or more frequently. My DH had a notebook on a string with dates and observations with his mum’s house.

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imnotimportant · 05/09/2020 19:56

Try age concern or saga insurance, they cover this type of thing

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KatyMac · 05/09/2020 22:04

I'll start ringing round on Monday = thanks everyone

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