How long can a property be empty before insurance is affected?

Most landlord policies restrict cover once a property is unoccupied for a continuous period, commonly 30, 45 or 60 days. After that the policy often falls back to fire, lightning, explosion, earthquake and sometimes aircraft only.

Do I need to tell my insurer the property is empty?

Yes, as soon as you know. Unoccupancy is a change in the risk, and notifying it is what keeps the policy valid. Insurers can usually add an unoccupied endorsement rather than cancel cover.

What conditions come with unoccupied cover?

Typical conditions include regular inspections and a record of them, draining down the water system in winter or keeping heating at a minimum temperature, removing post from the mat, securing all locks, and keeping the property free of rubbish and combustible materials.

Is renovation work covered while the property is empty?

Not automatically. Structural works, extensions and rewiring usually need to be declared, and larger projects may need a separate renovation or contract works arrangement.

LANDLORD GUIDE

Unoccupied property insurance

An empty property is a higher risk, not a lower one. Escape of water, break-ins and small fires all go unnoticed for longer, so most landlord policies quietly cut back cover once a property has been empty for a set number of days.

Last reviewed August 2026

Why insurers treat empty properties differently

When nobody is in the building, problems have time to get worse. A pipe that fails on day one of a void can flood a ground floor for weeks. Vacant houses also attract squatters, vandalism and metal theft.

So rather than charging the same premium, insurers apply an unoccupancy clause: after a continuous period without occupation, cover narrows to a short list of major perils and the everyday causes of loss drop away.

When landlords hit the clause

The common triggers are ordinary, which is why it catches people out.

A void between tenancies that runs longer than expected
A student let empty over the summer
A refurbishment or extension between lets
A property inherited and going through probate
A property on the market and standing empty
A tenant who has left before the tenancy formally ends

How cover is arranged instead

There are two routes. Either the existing insurer adds an unoccupied endorsement with conditions, or the property moves to a dedicated unoccupied policy, often written for three, six or twelve months with the option to convert back once tenants move in.

Dedicated wordings can usually be extended to include works, theft and malicious damage that a stripped-back landlord policy would exclude.

The conditions you have to keep

Unoccupied cover comes with duties, and claims turn on whether they were followed. Keep a written record of every inspection with dates and photographs; it is the simplest way to protect a claim.

Inspect at the interval stated in the policy, typically every 7 to 14 days
Drain the water system or maintain a minimum heating temperature in winter
Secure all doors and windows and set any alarm
Clear post and remove rubbish, mail and combustible items
Declare any building works before they start

Property empty or about to be?

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Common questions

How long can a property be empty before insurance is affected?: Most landlord policies restrict cover once a property is unoccupied for a continuous period, commonly 30, 45 or 60 days. After that the policy often falls back to fire, lightning, explosion, earthquake and sometimes aircraft only.
Do I need to tell my insurer the property is empty?: Yes, as soon as you know. Unoccupancy is a change in the risk, and notifying it is what keeps the policy valid. Insurers can usually add an unoccupied endorsement rather than cancel cover.
What conditions come with unoccupied cover?: Typical conditions include regular inspections and a record of them, draining down the water system in winter or keeping heating at a minimum temperature, removing post from the mat, securing all locks, and keeping the property free of rubbish and combustible materials.
Is renovation work covered while the property is empty?: Not automatically. Structural works, extensions and rewiring usually need to be declared, and larger projects may need a separate renovation or contract works arrangement.

Keep reading

General information only, written for UK readers. It is not insurance advice and does not take account of your circumstances. Cover Sorted collects your enquiry and passes it to an FCA-authorised insurance specialist. Cover Sorted does not provide quotations, comparisons or recommendations.