Unoccupied homes may invalidate insurance claims

21.04.2006 Research recently published by Halifax Home Insurance has shown that more than half a million households in Britain are left unoccupied for 30, or more, consecutive days of the year. Of this number, over half the householders are not aware that long periods away from their property could invalidate potential insurance claims.

Many leading insurers have a thirty-day clause in their policies, which means that claims made by houses which are unoccupied for this time may be invalidated. Common problems arising during extended periods away can include burst pipes and robbery. Especially in cold weather, a pipe could burst, causing damage to your house. If your home insurance policy has the thirty day clause in it, you may not be able to claim the cost of repairing the damage. Theft is another risk, when leaving a house unoccupied, and claims for stolen property, such as jewellery, cash or electrical goods, may not be protected if by your policy.


If you are buying a home insurance policy, and envisage yourself spending time away from the house, even if just for a few weeks at a time, ask the policy provider how long the unoccupied property will be covered for.