Compare short-term unoccupied house insurance

What is short-term home insurance?

Short-term home insurance – also known as short-term unoccupied house insurance – covers your home if you leave it empty for more than 30 days, which is the usual limit of a standard home insurance policy. 

An empty home is at greater risk of vandalism, wear and tear, fires and break-ins, so it’s essential to get short-term home insurance if you want to make sure you’re financially covered if something goes wrong while your property is empty.

You might need short-term home insurance if:

Short-term house insurance is typically more expensive than standard home insurance because if something goes wrong in an unoccupied property – like a fire or burst pipe – there won’t be anyone there to sort it out quickly.

What is covered by short-term house insurance?

Short-term house insurance generally covers you against damage and losses caused by:

It’s important to remember that every temporary home insurance policy is different. You’ll need to check yours carefully to see exactly what you’re covered for, how much cover you have, as well as what you’re not covered for.

What do I need to tell my insurer to get temporary home insurance?

You’ll need to tell your insurer the length of time the property will be unoccupied, as well as offering them an appraisal of the condition of the property, such as any existing damage to windows, doors or the roof.

What do I need to do to my property to keep it safe? 

Your insurer may request that you do some of the following before it offers you short-term unoccupied house insurance:

If you’re looking to insure a property that you’re renovating, check you can get cover before you start.

Find specialist renovation insurance here

Which is the best short-term house insurance policy?

To find the best short-term house insurance policy, you’ll need to think about the following:

Shop around to find the best short-term house insurance policy for your unoccupied home. Use our broker form to compare quotes from each insurer in this comparison.

Here’s more information on unoccupied home insurance

Can I get cheap short-term home insurance?

Price shouldn’t be your top priority. You should always aim to find the cover that best suits your needs. Once you know the level cover you want, compare policies and shop around to find the policy that offers what you need at the best price.

How can I make my short-term home insurance cheaper?

There are a few other things you can do to cut the cost of your short-term home insurance. These include: