Any advice on home insurance conditions while away for 5 months.We will put in time cocks,random switching and photocell etc.We live in a mid terrace house and have really good neighbours and have been relatively free of crime for a couple of years.Current ins co say ok for 60 days,didnt want to ask for a longer term in case they held it against us at a later date.
Quite a few companies will not entertain more than 45 days, however we are insured with Direct Line who state that if you leave the property unocupied for more than 45 days then the policy is still okay provided that:
1 All doors and windows are locked
2 Services are turned off unless you have to leave then on to keep the heating going.
There is a reduction of £50 from any claim during this period.
Well if you have good neighbours as you say, why don't you leave the keys with one of them to make the house look occupied, ie, draw the curtains/put lights on and off, check the water and gas etc. I'm with Sheilas Wheels and its 90 days according to my policy, but I DO HAVE A GOOD next door who does that for for a small reward ie. a bottle of J.D.
Hi, to the best of my knowledge you have 2 choices:-
The Nationwide Building Society used to have no limit on the time you were away from home, their only proviso was that someone checked the home every 2 weeks if my memory serves me correct and as for the services e.g. leaving the Gas/heating etc. on or off it depended on the time of year.
If I can find a link to their Insurance conditions I will post it otherwise either check on line yourself or go into one of there branches
The second choice is the Camping & Caravanning Club they offer 120 days away in any one period, and I can tell you from experience the savings we made in changing to them from the Nationwide earlier this year paid for our subscriptions to the C&CC 3 fold.
Hi, Hope this link to the Nationwide insurance conditions works, Page 55 explains the conditions for unoccupied premises, if you do decide to go with them double check these conditions still apply, hope that helps
Quote: Originally posted by enodreven on 28/10/2010Hi, Hope this link to the Nationwide insurance conditions works, Page 55 explains the conditions for unoccupied premises, if you do decide to go with them double check these conditions still apply, hope that helps Nationwide BS
Sorry typo error on the 120 should have been 180 days,
Page 9 is the definition of when the insuarnce company view your property as being Unoccupied, and page 55 clarifies the process that you must put in place to maintain cover when your home falls into the classification of being Unoccupied
hope that makes sense.
Page 9 states the following:-
Unoccupied
When your home has not been lived in permanently by you or anyone else with your permission for longer than 60 consecutive days.
Page 55 states:-
Conditions For Unfurnished or Unoccupied Homes
When your home is unfurnished or unoccupied, your cover under Sections 1, 3 and 8 of this policy will not be affected if you meet all the following conditions.
• All the existing locks and any other protective devices are used.
• Your domestic water system and heating installation are turned off at the
mains and drained down. You do not need to do this if you use your central
heating system to keep your home constantly heated to a minimum of 12°C
(or 55°F) between 1st November to 31st March inclusive.
• Any gas services are turned off at the mains or supply tank. You do not
need to do this if you are keeping your central heating system on and need
to supply it with gas.
• Any oil supply is turned off at the supply tank. You do not need to do this
if you are keeping your central heating system on and need to supply it
with oil.
• Your home is checked internally at least every 14 days