How to keep empty house costs low and keep house safe?

7 replies

keepcalm85 · 04/08/2022 10:20

DM lives on her own, she'll soon be moving in with her new partner. She'll be keeping her house (she owns it with no mortgage) and will be coming back at least once every week (will likely be more) to do gardening and potter about during the day, but she won't be staying overnight and for 90% of the time the house will be empty.

Does anyone have any tips to keep the costs of running an empty house low?

And does anyone have any security tips to help make the house look less empty? I've seen those lights that mimic the look of the light from a TV but not sure how good they would be as a deterrent!

She will still need internet for her ring doorbell so we will shop around for the cheapest rate we can find for her.

She may rent it out/sell it one day but no plans for this for a while yet as this is a new set up and wants to have her security to come back to, so we just want to help her get sorted for now.

OP posts:

Boymummax2 · 04/08/2022 10:30

Would she consider renting it short term?

Mindymomo · 04/08/2022 10:34

She may have a problem with insurance, she will have a check with her insurers how many nights/days she has to stay in house to keep the insurance valid if house is empty. I know from past experience with an empty house, you have to make sure in winter the house is heated to a certain level.

minipie · 04/08/2022 13:11

Smart lights on a timer

Burglar alarm

Bright lights at all entrances and keep any hedges cut right back (ie make sure anyone breaking in would be as visible as possible)

Agree insurance will probably not cover a property occupied this little, you need special unoccupied insurance

Personally however I would suggest she occupies it in some way. She could look for a lodger rather than a tenant - a lodger would probably be delighted to have the place to themselves most of the time but happy for her to turn up and potter sometimes. Or she could look for a long term regular house sitter - house sitters uk has lots of people willing to house sit for free.

WinterMusings · 04/08/2022 13:15

Do you not have a younger relative/friends adult child that would love to stay/house sit/stay for cost of utilities?

if they're studying/working/busy they'll be out when your mums having her pootle about, but there for security & no problem moving back in when she wants to!

that's what we did anyway & it worked out perfectly or should I say puuurrrfectly (as they looked after our cat too!)

MarshaBradyo · 04/08/2022 13:16

WinterMusings · 04/08/2022 13:15

Do you not have a younger relative/friends adult child that would love to stay/house sit/stay for cost of utilities?

if they're studying/working/busy they'll be out when your mums having her pootle about, but there for security & no problem moving back in when she wants to!

that's what we did anyway & it worked out perfectly or should I say puuurrrfectly (as they looked after our cat too!)

This is what I thought. Someone would love an empty house rather than paying for security stuff it works both ways

WalterWexler · 04/08/2022 13:36

Definitely check insurance.

A relative had a nasty shock when a house they owned and was unoccupied burnt down. Insurance refused to cover it as no one was living there at the time.

MrsMontyD · 04/08/2022 18:56

WalterWexler · 04/08/2022 13:36

Definitely check insurance.

A relative had a nasty shock when a house they owned and was unoccupied burnt down. Insurance refused to cover it as no one was living there at the time.

Definitely this, she will probably need to sleep there regularly to keep the insurance valid.

Flip