DS plans to leave his central London flat totally empty for a year

[Tedsabear]

Hi all, so my DS’s dad passed away a couple of years ago, between his pension, life insurance and home DS and as able to sell his home and buy a flat in central London. He spent over 1 million on this (his dad wasn’t super wealthy or anything he just owned a property in a nice area of London and it was paid off mortgage wise). His girlfriend is Portuguese and also owns property in Lisbon.
They are mid 20s.

They have decided to spend the next year as digital nomads as they are able to work remotely. I told DS he should rent out his flat and his girlfriend should do the same. One from a security perspective and two as extra income. He has said no he doesn’t like the idea of someone staying in his space, he’s said I can go and check on it once a month or “whatever” if I like. He said his girlfriend will be doing the same anyway.

AIBU to think he’s being ridiculous?

I wouldn’t worry about insurance. As I was so eloquently informed on this thread, flats are immune to any occupancy clauses…….

Insurance for an empty property will be required plus payment for water supply and power standing charges, even though empty. I'd be renting it out thru an agent in a strict 12 month lease.

The broker who arranged my unoccupied property insurance warned me that it would be expensive, so I was amazed to find that it was only £325 for the year.

Also, as it's a flat above a shop, it's going to be far less obvious to any passer-by that it's empty, compared to a house on a normal street. So I think squatters and intruders are far less likely than they could be at my property. A very normal modern three bed semi close to the road with no lights on, no car on the drive etc for a long period, is much more of a target than a flat above a shop that no pedestrian even notices.

Presumably there was a clause saying the property had to be inspected regularly and a register maintaned of those visits. That's what we had to do.

Yes, I've already mentioned that more than once. At present there are enough estate agents and handymen going in to prepare my property for sale, to meet the requirements and sign the book that I've left in the kitchen. When/if that ends, I've already found a someone local who can do that for me for next to nothing.

How does being immune to occupancy clauses stop you getting squatters? How does it make your non-existent insurance pay out if a pipe bursts?

Sorry, I was being sarcastic. I agree with you. I was told by another poster that you didn’t need to worry about insurance.

If he doesn’t need the money then it’s definitely the better option to leave it empty if he’s likely only going away for a year. Speaking from experience unfortunately, renting your home out can be a nightmare because many tenants won’t treat it with the same care you do and he could come back to a whole load of problems. Can’t you stay there once a month and have free accommodation in central London? Sounds great!

I detect a hint of sarcasm in that reply..read it again