Vacant property Insurance – Increase in Empty Home Numbers

Posted by Active under Unoccupied Property News

Home owners and landlords must ensure that the property insurance company is made aware immediately of the fact that their property is vacant if the situation arises. By not making their home insurance provider aware to this material fact, the vacant property owner could be at risk of having any claim on the unoccupied property being voided as well as risk having any form of insurance cover protecting their vacant building.

It is equally important to have a vacant property insurance policy in place to protect the empty building as it is for a home insurance policy protecting an owner occupied home. Because of the current economic climate many owners of unoccupied buildings are not insuring their property for many of the risks associated with vacant premises such as fire, theft and malicious damage.

The trend of not insuring vacant buildings not only applies to residential premises but also many unoccupied commercial premises are also left uninsured. Each year it is estimated that many millions of pounds worth of damage is caused to vacant buildings as a result of fire and vandalism.

Many UK property owners are taking huge gambles by not insuring their empty buildings and residential properties with mortgages are even at a greater risk as they are not complying with the condition of their mortgage by not having adequate insurance cover in place for their unoccupied home.

Vacant Home

Active Insurance providing low cost online vacant property insurance

It is the responsibility of the unoccupied property owner that their premises is in a safe state and is not a danger to anyone including trespassers or otherwise. If an injury or an accident occurs at the vacant property and it transpires that the property was not safe then the property owners vacant property insurance policy could be invalidated. It is the property owners responsibility to ensure that the building is kept in a safe condition.

Some property owners wrongly assume that a conventional home insurance policy does not differ to an unoccupied home insurance cover. This assumption is clearly wrong and it is best advised to seek suitable advice from an experienced vacant home insurance provider.

For further information on unoccupied property insurance please contact Active Insurance directly on 0844 477 9805.

Property Insurance – Thawing Risks

Posted by Active under Latest News, Property News, Unoccupied Property News

With further snow and disruption the last thing in people’s minds is the subsequent thaw.  Burst pipes claims can be considerable with home insurance claims often running into thousands of pounds. A small fracture alone can release hundreds of gallons of water into your property; damaging carpets, walls, ceilings and also personal items.

Property Insurance from Active

The chance of suffering these losses can be reduced and we would recommend taking the following steps to do this:

General tips:

• Check the location of your stopcock. If a major leak does occur then the water supply can be switch off to prevent further damage.
• Check whether your boiler needs servicing. Regular maintenance of your boiler equipment can highlight any likely future problems.
• Check the insulation on your water pipes and cold water tank, those in the attic or other vulnerable spaces should be lagged or similarly protected.
• Modern methods of insulation can be so effective in keeping heat within your property that attics can become very cold, this could cause a pipe to freeze. We therefore recommend you keep your loft hatch open if you have pipes in the attic to keep this area warm.
• Keep doors between heated and unheated rooms open to allow warm air to circulate.
• Keep cupboard doors open below sinks to allow warm air to circulate around the plumbing.
• Seal any holes or gaps that may be letting cold air into your property.
• Make sure any valleys and gulley’s on your roof are kept clear and free from debris.
• Make sure any external taps are turned off and disconnect any hoses.
• If you discover a frozen pipe don’t wait for it to burst. Turn off your water supply and then slowly thaw the affected pipe by introducing gentle heat to the area e.g. hair dryer, space heater, hot water bottle. DO NOT attempt to thaw the pipe with a blow torch or other open flame such as a cigarette lighter or matches.  

What if you are going away or the property will be unoccupied?

• Keep your property heated to reduce the chance of a pipe freezing.
• If you are going away for an extended break drain and shut off your water system.
• Ask somebody to check on your property daily. This may not prevent a loss but early identification of an escape of water can help reduce the ultimate cost.
• Ensure you have complied with any unoccupancy conditions or warranties listed in your home insurance policy. If you need any clarification call us on 08444 779805.

  
What if the worst happens?

• Turn off the water supply at the stopcock. This should prevent any more water escaping into your property.
• Where practical try and catch any excess water in a bucket or other container.
• Do not use any electrics if you believe these may have been affected by the escaping water. You will need to have these checked by a professional electrician.
• Call us immediately on 08444 779805 to report your claim. We have to a wide range of specialists who can assist with the drying out and clean up of your property and also the necessary repairs or replacement. 

Vacant Home Insurance Guide

Posted by Active under Unoccupied Property News

Most home owners are not aware that most house insurance companies will not provide cover to your buildings and contents if your property is left unoccupied for more than thirty days. Obviously a vacant property is more likely to be vandalised than an occupied home. Also risks such as escape of water from a burst pipe could potentially cause thousands of pounds of damage if left unattended. This is probably one of the biggest risks to a vacant home. If you are going to leave your home unoccupied for more than 30 days check with your home insurance company to see if they will still provide the necessary cover or else you will need to obtain a vacant home insurance policy.

Not all vacant house insurance policies are the same. Check with the provider what level of coverage that you are getting as most will only provide FLEEA cover only. This essentially provides cover for the following risk; Fire, Lightening, Earthquake, Explosion and Aircraft only. There are many providers that will extend this cover on empty homes to full cover so theft and property owners liability is also included.

A vacant home insurance policy is absolutely necessary for houses that will be left unoccupied for some time. Active Insurance is a leading UK broker providing unoccupied home insurance for all types of residential properties.