Is your home going to be vacant for a considerable amount of time? We aren't talking about a three week extended holiday, or a two month international vacation. Home insurance providers consider that "unoccupied". They expect that to happen every now and then.
If your home is unoccupied for more than four days during the heating season, there would be some restriction on your coverage. You'll need to have your home checked daily by a competent person to make sure heating is being maintained. Another good option is to drain your appliances and your pipes, and then shut the water to your home off. If you fail to take these simple steps and your pipes freeze over causing damage, your insurance provider will not accept your claim.
What does "vacant" mean in insurance terms?
Typically, the insurance company will consider your home to be "vacant" if you have moved out and are not intending to go back, or if this is a new home that you have not moved into yet. Another reason would be for a rental property that is temporarily without tenants.
Get in touch with your insurance provider immediately if you expect to have a vacant property. Even if you've placed insurance on your home, there are a number of coverages that no longer apply with most providers, such as glass breakage, vandalism, and water damage. In most cases, if you have not included a "vacancy permit" on to your insurance, and you're away from the home for more than 30 days, your coverage will no longer be active.
What does a vacancy permit actually mean?
For an additional charge each month, some coverage can be retained by adding a vacancy permit, but it isn't going to be cheap. Keep in mind that there are exclusions like water, glass and vandalism.
Taking some relatively simple precautions will greatly reduce your chance of losses during the time your property remains vacant:
Keep up maintenance of the yard, and be sure that it's kept clean, and no trash is left around.
Draw the blinds or have curtains covering every window.
Don't let mail or flyers pile up at the front door.
Keeping your lighting system set on a timer is a good idea.
Have someone go to the house regularly, at least once a week, to check on it inside and out.
During the winter, make sure heat is being properly maintained.
Windows and doors must be locked and secured, and having an alarm installed will give you added protection as well.
Do whatever you can to make a vacant home looked lived in. A vacant home is an easy target for a vandal, so don't make it apparent that the home is empty. Most importantly, keep in close contact with your insurance provider. Let them know how long the home will be vacant, and provide them with details on when you're returning and what you have arranged to ensure that the home is safe. Be sure that you don't get left footing the bill if there is a major problem while you're gone, so talk to your insurance provider right away.
If your home is unoccupied for more than four days during the heating season, there would be some restriction on your coverage. You'll need to have your home checked daily by a competent person to make sure heating is being maintained. Another good option is to drain your appliances and your pipes, and then shut the water to your home off. If you fail to take these simple steps and your pipes freeze over causing damage, your insurance provider will not accept your claim.
What does "vacant" mean in insurance terms?
Typically, the insurance company will consider your home to be "vacant" if you have moved out and are not intending to go back, or if this is a new home that you have not moved into yet. Another reason would be for a rental property that is temporarily without tenants.
Get in touch with your insurance provider immediately if you expect to have a vacant property. Even if you've placed insurance on your home, there are a number of coverages that no longer apply with most providers, such as glass breakage, vandalism, and water damage. In most cases, if you have not included a "vacancy permit" on to your insurance, and you're away from the home for more than 30 days, your coverage will no longer be active.
What does a vacancy permit actually mean?
For an additional charge each month, some coverage can be retained by adding a vacancy permit, but it isn't going to be cheap. Keep in mind that there are exclusions like water, glass and vandalism.
Taking some relatively simple precautions will greatly reduce your chance of losses during the time your property remains vacant:
Keep up maintenance of the yard, and be sure that it's kept clean, and no trash is left around.
Draw the blinds or have curtains covering every window.
Don't let mail or flyers pile up at the front door.
Keeping your lighting system set on a timer is a good idea.
Have someone go to the house regularly, at least once a week, to check on it inside and out.
During the winter, make sure heat is being properly maintained.
Windows and doors must be locked and secured, and having an alarm installed will give you added protection as well.
Do whatever you can to make a vacant home looked lived in. A vacant home is an easy target for a vandal, so don't make it apparent that the home is empty. Most importantly, keep in close contact with your insurance provider. Let them know how long the home will be vacant, and provide them with details on when you're returning and what you have arranged to ensure that the home is safe. Be sure that you don't get left footing the bill if there is a major problem while you're gone, so talk to your insurance provider right away.
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