Buildings insurance

[DidntTryHardEnough]

We are buying our first house and sorting the insurance. It asks if the house will be empty for more than 30 days. We are getting some work done before we move - rewire, loft boarded. I expect we will move in within 45 days of purchase.

My partner thinks this doesn't count as empty as people will be working in it. I think they mean are you living in it.

Which of us is correct?

I think they mean someone should be living in it. But we took that risk too, for a couple of months, and the place didn't burn down or get smashed into so no harm done. Insurance is a bit of a game, it's all about what you consider is a risk worth taking.

Depends on the insurance company’s definition. They should give you guidance notes when you get a quote and if not I’d ask them to be sure. They might want the house to be inhabited overnight.

Ok that's helpful, thanks

It's insurance company specific, check the wording. With mine a single overnight stay around Day 25 was enough to reset the counter.

You probably want to give them your builders insurance details as well when you inform them you're getting work done.

@Lovingthelighterevenings really? Ok did not know that, thanks for the heads up.

You will need to tell the building insurance people that you are having renovation work done and how long that will last. Otherwise they won't cover damage caused during renovation

If you give them false information then you will not be covered. Tell them what is happening, especially if you are having building work, so that you can get the cover you are paying for!

We are 24 days into our referb, not living there but not empty... at least 1 of us is there 4-5 hours a day sometimes more. I know people actively who live in a house and barely spend that much time there and most of that time they are unconcious where as we are actively checking/fixing problems the whole time.

Nothing says you have to be in a house for a set amount or time or at any specific set time... people who work nights aren't sleeping in their house at night and some people only return home to sleep or are only there every few days (especially if they are dating and splitting time between houses etc...).

I do know you do actually have to 'regularly' be at the house though, stopping by for 10 minutes every week or so to pick up post etc... does not count.

It is easy enough to get the correct cover so why risk it? Invalid insurance is no insurance.
The 30-day rule is an industry standard but there are all sorts of reasons why you may not be able to comply (building work, holiday, hospital etc) and most insurers are happy to extend it but you just need to speak to them.

Have done it myself, as did my parents.
My first house was empty for 3-months when I bought it as there was so much to do to make it habitable. My parents took multiple holidays, each being longer than a month. Likewise when their house was empty following their deaths.

This sounds much more sensible than my advice! Wish we had thought of this 🤡 but there was so much to sort out at the time that we just winged it with fingers crossed 🤞🏻😬

They mean living in it.

I strongly suggest you "move in" on the date of completion, you will need at least a kettle and a toilet roll. A bed and some washing stuff would also be useful. Take the meter readings, and, if it has a landline, make some phone calls. Have some post delivered.

Subsequently, you might spend nights away while building work is going on.

I used to stay overnight most weekends.