Working abroad, a long trip, a hospital stay, an inherited flat standing empty for now - life regularly creates longer periods of absence. Home insurance, though, is built on the logic of a permanently occupied home: beyond a certain point, unoccupancy can fall under separate rules. It's worth knowing this before you leave, not after a claim.
- Terms typically treat prolonged unoccupancy as a separate case: beyond a certain length of time, the absence is notifiable, and different rules can apply - the exact threshold depends on the product.
- Two risks genuinely rise during an absence: unnoticed water damage and burglary of the empty home.
- The good routine is simple: mains shut off, heating kept at a low background level in winter, and someone checking on the property regularly.
What do the terms say about unoccupancy?
Most policy terms distinguish a temporary absence - a holiday, a work trip - from prolonged unoccupancy: beyond a defined length of time, the latter typically triggers a notification requirement and separate rules, for instance around water-damage or burglary cover. The exact number of days and the consequences vary by product - so the first step is checking your own policy terms, the second is notifying the insurer if the absence reaches that threshold. Our exclusions map gives the background to these restrictions. Honest disclosure matters here too: not reporting prolonged unoccupancy can put your payout at risk at claim time, while reporting it is typically quick paperwork.
Water and burglary: why these two?
Water damage is a function of time: a leak in an occupied flat comes to light within hours; in an empty one it can work away for weeks - in the walls, in the floor slab, at the neighbour below. The fix is simple: shut off the mains before you leave, along with the washing-machine and dishwasher taps. For burglary, the tell-tale signs matter: an overflowing postbox, windows that are always dark, a pile-up of flyers. Mail redirection or regular collection, a timer on the lights, and thoughtfully positioned blinds all significantly worsen a burglar's odds - at no cost. In the frost-risk months, keeping the heating at a low background level is also part of the routine.
The check-in routine: a neighbour is worth more than you'd think
The genuinely useful tool for an absence is a reliable person: a neighbour, relative or friend who calls in regularly - airing the place out, clearing the postbox, checking the taps and ceilings. Agree in advance what they should do if they notice anything: a photo, a message to you - and if damage does happen, the primary route for reporting a claim is still the insurer's claims line or online portal. Keep some record of the visits, even a short exchange of messages is enough: in a disputed situation, a documented record of regular checks is a genuinely useful piece of evidence. You'll find more ideas in our loss-prevention article.
Before you leave: a short list
The five-point absence routine: water mains shut off; heating set to low background level in winter - switching it off completely creates a frost risk; valuables locked away or left with relatives; mail sorted out; and if the absence reaches the threshold set out in the policy, notify the insurer. One useful tip: leave a contact number with a neighbour, and save the insurer's claims-line number - if something happens, you can start the notification straight away, even from a distance.
If the property is going to stand empty for a longer stretch - say, until an inheritance is settled - it's worth reviewing the whole setup: the logic here is much the same as for holiday homes and not permanently occupied properties. For any questions, let's talk it through in 20 minutes - ten minutes of attention before you leave buys peace of mind when you get back.
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