Unoccupied Property Insurance for Vacant Buildings | SRS Insurance
Protect empty residential or commercial properties with SRS Unoccupied Property Insurance. Flexible short-term or long-term cover for empty buildings.
What Is Unoccupied Property Insurance?
Unoccupied Property Insurance protects buildings that are left empty for 30 days or more, where standard home or commercial policies usually become restricted or invalid.
A property is classed as “unoccupied” for many reasons, including:
- Probate or deceased estate
- Awaiting sale or completion
- Renovation or redevelopment
- Awaiting new tenants or buyers
- Legal disputes or repossession
- Owner living abroad or in care
Without the correct insurance, you may find yourself uncovered for theft, water damage, or vandalism after just 30 days of vacancy.
Why Standard Cover Isn’t Enough
After 30 consecutive days of being unoccupied, most insurers restrict cover to FLEA only:
- Fire
- Lightning
- Explosion
- Aircraft damage
This means escape of water, theft, malicious damage, and storm damage are no longer covered.
In some cases, insurers may even void the policy entirely if the unoccupancy isn’t declared.
That’s why a specialist unoccupied property policy is essential.
What Does Unoccupied Property Insurance Cover?
A tailored policy through SRS Insurance can extend beyond FLEA to include:
- Theft and vandalism
- Escape of water (e.g. burst pipes or leaks)
- Storm and flood damage
- Malicious or accidental damage
- Legal expenses for property-related disputes
- Public and property owner’s liability cover
Cover can be customised based on:
- Duration of vacancy
- Security measures in place
- Frequency of property inspections
- Whether renovation or development work is ongoing
Why Is Unoccupied Property Insurance More Expensive?
Empty buildings carry a higher risk of:
- Vandalism and arson
- Squatting or unauthorised entry
- Undetected damage (e.g. leaks or fires)
- Insurance fraud or malicious acts
Claims often go unnoticed for weeks, so insurers factor this into the cost.
Typical guide prices:
- Residential unoccupied property: from £250–£1,000+ per year
- Commercial or listed properties: higher, depending on size, condition, and location
How to Enhance Your Cover
You can often unlock wider cover and better premiums by maintaining basic safety protocols:
- Weekly property inspections (can be outsourced)
- Turn off and drain water systems
- Secure entry points and fit alarm systems
- Notify insurers of any planned building works
- Remove post and visible signs of vacancy
These measures demonstrate active risk management, which allows SRS to negotiate enhanced terms and lower premiums.
Example Scenarios
- A probate property left vacant over winter suffers severe water damage from frozen pipes.
- A commercial unit awaiting new tenants is vandalised after being left unsecured.
- A house in legal dispute is targeted by arson — only FLEA cover applies, leaving theft-related damage excluded.
Why Choose SRS Insurance?
- Specialists in unoccupied and vacant property insurance
- Access to leading UK insurers for flexible short- and long-term cover
- Option to insure multiple vacant properties under one policy
- Expert advice on risk reduction, inspections, and claim prevention
- Competitive pricing and responsive claims support
Get a Quote Today
Protect your empty building or investment property with SRS Unoccupied Property Insurance.
Call 01274 965791 or visit www.srs.insurance to request your personalised quote today.