Unoccupied Home Insurance Ireland Explained

Unoccupied home insurance in Ireland is a type of insurance that protects your home when it's left empty for an extended period.

The average cost of unoccupied home insurance in Ireland is around €200-€500 per year, depending on the value of your home and its location.

You'll typically need to inform your insurance provider if your home is going to be unoccupied for 30 days or more.

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Insurance coverage for unoccupied homes in Ireland can vary depending on the insurer and policy. Your current insurer may offer protection for a longer period than the standard 30-60 days, but it may come with a lower level of cover.

Typically, standard home insurance policies only offer protection for fire and fire brigade charges when a home is unoccupied, and this varies between insurers. Your insurer may also require you to pay a higher excess than previously.

To get the right level of coverage, you'll need to inform your insurer that the home is unoccupied and discuss what types of cover they will provide during this time period. This is a crucial step to ensure you're adequately protected.

Here are some common risks that unoccupied home insurance covers:

Keep in mind that some exclusions may apply, such as cover against malicious damage or vandalism, which often requires an additional policy.

Unoccupied home insurance can offer cover for damage from fire, theft, and flooding, so you can leave your home empty for long periods without worrying about it coming to harm.

Some policies may also include public liability cover, which can protect you in case your property causes damage to another person or their property, such as falling roof tiles.

Cover against malicious damage or vandalism often requires an additional policy, so it's essential to check your policy details.

Contents insurance can be more expensive if it's required for a property that will be empty for long periods, but some policies may offer some cover for theft and vandalism of contents.

Typically, unoccupied home insurance cover will not offer any cover for contents you have in the property, so it may be worth arranging storage of any valuable or important items.

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Insurance coverage for unoccupied homes can be a bit tricky, but it's essential to understand what's covered and what's not.

Standard home insurance typically offers protection for up to 60 days, but if you need to leave your property unoccupied for a longer time period, you may need specialist unoccupied home insurance.

You'll need to inform your insurer that the home is unoccupied and provide the reason for its being vacant, as this can affect the type of cover they'll provide.

Unoccupied Home Insurance will cover your house for a range of risks, such as damage from fire, theft, and flooding, as well as your liability for any damage that your house may cause to others.

Some insurers may offer a lower level of cover, typically only protecting against fire and fire brigade charges, while others may require a higher excess.

You can leave your home empty for long periods, safe in the knowledge that you don't need to worry about it coming to any harm, but be aware that cover against malicious damage or vandalism often requires an additional policy.

Here are some common reasons why you may need to leave a property unoccupied:

You may need specialist unoccupied home insurance if your property is vacant for a longer time period than standard home insurance covers. This type of insurance can offer protection for a home or investment property that's vacant for 6 months, 12 months, or longer.

Specialised unoccupied home insurance generally offers more protection than standard home insurance, covering a wider range of perils such as storm and flood. This is especially important if you're leaving your property vacant for an extended period.

In certain circumstances, you may need to leave a property vacant for a longer time period, such as if you're traveling abroad for work or study, or if you're awaiting the sale of the property. Specialist unoccupied home insurance can provide the necessary protection in these situations.

If you're considering specialist unoccupied home insurance, be sure to compare providers to find a policy that suits your needs. This can be a simple process, with many providers offering a single short form to complete.

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Unoccupied home insurance premiums can be affected by several factors, making them generally more expensive than standard home insurance. One significant factor is the increased risk of disrepair, which can lead to unnoticed leaks and further damage.

The risk of break-ins, attempted break-ins, vandalism, and even squatters moving into the property also increases if a house is visibly vacant for any length of time. This is a serious concern, as it can result in significant losses.

Typically, unoccupied home insurance cover is based on certain conditions around maintenance of the property, which can help reduce the risk to the insurer. These conditions may include periodic inspection, turning off water, and turning off utilities.

Some insurers may also require the installation of an alarm or locks, as well as taking steps to secure the property. Heating and security measures can also be stipulated to minimize the risk of damage or loss.

Here are some common conditions that may be required to reduce the risk of an unoccupied property:

It's crucial to ensure that any security measures in your unoccupied home are in good working order and operational at all times. This includes locks, alarms, and other security systems.

Leaving doors or windows unlocked can be a major entry point for squatters and burglars, and if this is the case, you won't be covered by unoccupied home insurance.

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Regular inspections can help prevent issues like leaks or roof damage, which can be costly to repair. Unoccupied homes are at a higher risk of these problems.

Leaking roofs or pipes can cause significant damage if left unchecked. This is especially true for unoccupied properties.

To avoid unkempt gardens or post building up, regular inspections are a must. Regularly checking the property will also help prevent vandalism or squatters moving in.

Heating is a crucial aspect of home security, especially for unoccupied homes. It may be a requirement of unoccupied home insurance that heating is run intermittently in the property.

This will vary by insurer, so it's essential to check what your insurer requires.

Security is a top priority when it comes to an unoccupied home. Leaving doors or windows unlocked can be a serious issue, as it can provide an entry point for squatters or burglars, and you won't be covered by unoccupied home insurance if this happens.

An alarm system is a good idea, and it might even be a condition of insurance. Installing a motion sensor or CCTV can be a great way to deter intruders and keep an eye on the property.

Regularly checking that all security measures are in good working order is crucial. This includes making sure that locks, doors, and windows are secure, and that any alarm system is functioning properly.

To ensure that your unoccupied home is secure, consider the following conditions that insurance companies often stipulate:

These conditions can help reduce the risk of the property being unoccupied and may be a requirement for insurance coverage.

If your home is unoccupied for up to 45 days, your cover will remain as normal. However, if it's unoccupied for more than 45 days, there will be changes to the level of cover provided.

You'll need to contact your insurer's Customer Care team to let them know the reason for the unoccupancy, the dates, and whether the property is furnished. They'll advise you of any changes to the cover.

During the winter months (1st November to 31st March), you'll need to switch off the water at the mains and drain the system, regardless of the length of time the property is unoccupied. This is to prevent damage from frozen pipes.

Here are some scenarios where you may need unoccupied home insurance:

Specialised unoccupied home insurance can offer protection for a home or investment property that is vacant for a longer time period than standard, with cover available for 6 months, 12 months, or longer.

If your property is unoccupied for up to 45 days, your cover will remain as normal. However, if it's left empty for longer than that, there will be changes to the level of cover provided.

Cover for theft or attempted theft or vandalism is excluded once the home is unoccupied for more than 45 days. You'll need to contact the Customer Care team to let them know the reason for the unoccupancy, the dates, and if the property is furnished.

You'll need to provide this information to the Customer Care team, regardless of the length of time your property is unoccupied. If you're planning a long-term unoccupancy, it's essential to get in touch with them as soon as possible.

Between 1st November and 31st March, you'll need to switch off the water at the mains and drain the system, even if your property is only unoccupied for a short time. This is a crucial step to prevent damage to the property.

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Here's a summary of the key dates to keep in mind:

Make sure to check your insurance schedule for full details on the holiday home un-occupancy endorsement. There may be other sections of the policy that are excluded if your property has been unoccupied for more than 45 days.

Comparing property insurance can be a straightforward process. You can complete a single short form to get started.

If you're looking to compare providers for Northern Ireland insurance, you can do so easily. This way, you can find a policy that suits your needs.

To make the process even smoother, simply choose a policy that suits your needs after comparing providers.

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To get the best insurance coverage for your unoccupied home, it's essential to ensure the property is in a good state of repair. Insurers often won't insure properties with boarded up windows or preexisting damage.

Before insuring your empty home, make sure it's safe and secure. This means fixing any broken windows, repairing damaged walls, and addressing any other issues that could compromise the property's integrity.

Insurers may also require special measures to protect your property during periods of unoccupation, such as draining the water system and leaving the heating on to prevent frozen pipes.