Owning a second home or leaving a property empty for long periods can affect your home insurance.

This guide explains how insurance works for unoccupied houses, second homes and holiday lets, and how to keep your property covered.

What does ‘unoccupied’ mean for home insurance?

When you’re applying for home insurance, an unoccupied home is a property that has been left empty for a significant time period. In most cases, you can leave your property unoccupied for around 30 to 60 consecutive days a year, depending on the insurer.

‘Lived in' means regularly sleeping overnight and using the home for normal daily activities such as cooking and bathing.

Insurers often treat unoccupied homes differently. This is because the risk of damage, theft or problems such as a burst pipe can go unnoticed if no one is living in the property.

What if a house is unoccupied for longer?

Most home insurance policies assume someone lives in the property most of the time. If you plan to leave your home unoccupied for longer than the timeframe set out by your insurer, you may need to:

• Inform your insurer
• Arrange extended cover for an unoccupied property
• Follow additional conditions to keep the policy valid

Understanding how your insurer defines an unoccupied home is important if you plan to leave your property empty for an extended period.

If you are unsure how long your home can remain empty under your policy, it is best to check the policy wording carefully.

Can you insure an unoccupied house?

If you own a house, it should remain insured, even if it is empty.

If you are not living in the property, the cover may work differently from standard home insurance. Insurers may offer unoccupied property insurance or add conditions to an existing buildings insurance policy, such as:

• Keeping the home secure
• Visiting the property regularly
• Turning off or draining water systems in winter
• Maintaining the building and garden

These conditions help reduce the risk of damage while the home is empty. Learn more ways to improve home security and reduce insurance risk.

With Marshmallow home insurance policies, you must be living at your home for your insurance to be valid. So if your home is going to be unoccupied for longer than 60 days, please contact us straightaway.

Insurance for second homes

Second homes are often treated differently by insurers because they are rarely occupied all year round. If you own a second property that you visit occasionally, insurers may ask:

• How often the property is used
• Whether it is left empty for long periods
• The location and security of the home

Mortgage lenders usually require buildings insurance on second homes, just as they would for a main residence. Learn more about buildings insurance and when it is needed.

In many cases, a standard home insurance policy can still apply, but it may include conditions if the property is unoccupied for extended periods.

Insurance for holiday homes and holiday lets

Holiday homes can fall into two categories:

• Properties used by the owner for personal breaks
• Properties rented out to guests as short-term holiday accommodation

If the property is rented to guests, specialist holiday-let insurance may be needed. This type of policy may include additional cover such as:

• Public liability cover
• Employer’s liability if staff are involved
• Alternative accommodation for guests
• Loss of rental income if the property becomes uninhabitable

These policies are designed to reflect the risks associated with guests staying in the property. If a property is rented out regularly, the insurance may be similar to that used for landlords.

At Marshmallow, our home insurance is designed for properties used for your main residence, and wouldn’t cover a holiday home or holiday let.

Summary

Insurance for second homes, holiday properties and empty houses usually works slightly differently from standard home insurance.

You might need specialist cover if the home is left unoccupied for long periods or rented out as a holiday let. Understanding the conditions of your policy can help ensure your property remains protected.

If you’re looking to insure your primary home, learn more about Marshmallow home insurance, or get a quick quote online in minutes.