In the event of a claim while the home is unoccupied or vacant, the unoccupied homeowners insurance policy is unlikely to provide coverage. As a result, any resulting damages or losses would have to be paid for out of pocket.
Fire, vandalism, liability, and other types of claims on an unoccupied or vacant property are typically not covered by standard unoccupied homeowners insurance policies. Unoccupied and vacant home insurance, for example, would provide coverage where your standard homeowners policy would not.
UNOCCUPIED HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE: DO UNOCCUPIED HOMEOWNER NEED IT?
While policy concepts vary, most insurance companies will deny claims if your home is left alone for more than 30 days.
Before leaving your home unattended for an extended period of time, speak with your insurer and ask how the company defines vacancy and unoccupancy, as your property insurance company may have specific restrictions on the length of time you can leave your home unattended.
Below is a list of common scenarios in which a homeowner may require unoccupied homeowners insurance:
- You own a vacation home that you only visit a few times a year.
- You’ve bought a house, but you won’t be able to move in for several weeks.
- You’re constantly on the road for weeks on end.
- You must undergo medical treatment that will keep you in the hospital for several weeks.
- You’re remodeling a house and aren’t living there while the work is being done.
- You’re renting out a house and are in the process of finding tenants.
UNOCCUPIED HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE: DO I HAVE AN UNOCCUPIED OR VACANT HOUSE?
An unoccupied home is one that is ready to be used as a residence, which means it has furniture and utilities in place. A vacant house, on the other hand, is usually devoid of personal property.
However, vacant homes pose a greater risk to insurance companies than unoccupied homes because unoccupied-home claims are more likely to be reported sooner than vacant-home claims.
As a result, any damage that may occur, such as a water backup in the home, is likely to be less severe in the unoccupied home, resulting in a lower cost to the insurance company
.UNOCCUPIED HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE: HOW GET THE INSURANCE CHEAPER
While unoccupied homeowners insurance is costly, there are some methods you can use to save money. For example, if you have a neighbor or a friend who agrees to check on your property every few days, your insurance company may agree that your home is not unoccupied or vacant.
Installing safety devices, such as an alarm, cctv etc, may also qualify you for a discount. However, these decisions are frequently made on a case-by-case basis, which means that there is no set rule.
Regardless, discount opportunities are worth discussing with your insurance company because they could save you hundreds of dollars on property insurance each year.
As a result, if you leave your home unattended for weeks at a time, your homeowners insurance policy is unlikely to cover you in the event of a claim while it is unoccupied or vacant. As a result, any resulting damages or losses would have to be paid for out of pocket.
Unoccupied and vacant home insurance products provide coverage for claims that would otherwise go unpaid by your home insurance company during these times.
