Author Topic: Extended Holidays and Home Insurance  (Read 1667 times)

Extended Holidays and Home Insurance
« on: 24 June, 2019, 05:03:23 pm »
We are hoping to celebrate retirement with an extended holiday, August until the weather drives us home!  Have just checkedwith the broker to find out what conditions would apply expecting 'drain the water, turn lecy off or something'

But no, '30 days max and if it's goning to be longer than that we advise you to cancel the policy and we'll refund the unused portion but not the tax or brokers fee'.

To say I'm not impressed would be a little understatement.

Has anyone else come across this and any thoughts on a solution?  The policy covers not only the house and contents but away from home cover and the bikes.

Thanks

Re: Extended Holidays and Home Insurance
« Reply #1 on: 24 June, 2019, 05:54:50 pm »
Find someone who will house sit while you are away?

ian

Re: Extended Holidays and Home Insurance
« Reply #2 on: 24 June, 2019, 07:41:48 pm »
All standard policies depend on the insurers being able to assay known risks, which requires a known set of variables, anything outside of those makes it more complicated, hence brokers and underwriting.

To be honest, I can see why they'd decline to offer standard insurance for a house that will be unoccupied for a long period of time. There's not just the risk of burglary, but any issue like a leak will go unnoticed for a long period and cause considerably more damage. Empty houses are simply a riskier proposition.

Re: Extended Holidays and Home Insurance
« Reply #3 on: 24 June, 2019, 08:24:39 pm »
Contact Homesitters or a similar company. The 30 day term is pretty universal.
We are making a New World (Paul Nash, 1918)

Tim Hall

  • Victoria is my queen
Re: Extended Holidays and Home Insurance
« Reply #4 on: 24 June, 2019, 08:48:08 pm »
After Dad died and we were trying to sell the house we had some kind of specialist empty house insurance. I'll see if can find the details.

<mode = Tandem Club>Alternatively,  don't L & K or P & V go away for long periods of time? Why not ask them? /<mode>
There are two ways you can get exercise out of a bicycle: you can
"overhaul" it, or you can ride it.  (Jerome K Jerome)

Re: Extended Holidays and Home Insurance
« Reply #5 on: 24 June, 2019, 09:52:09 pm »
If you can't find the empty house cover pm me and I'll find details. A friend of mine had to use it after his mother died and he lives abroad so used my address as UK contact address

andytheflyer

  • Andytheex-flyer.....
Re: Extended Holidays and Home Insurance
« Reply #6 on: 25 June, 2019, 07:57:39 am »
We had a similar problem in 2017 - we had the opportunity to go to Australia for 3 months (no parents, no dog).  Our house insurers (LV, IIRC) will insure for 60 days unoccupied, so we had to take a risk for about 23 days.

Everything except the electric was turned off (we have a chest freezer) and our neighbours were in most days to check.  We live in a quite rural cul-de-sac in a low crime area, so for us it was not a major risk, IMO.  Fortunately, it all worked out OK.

Tim Hall

  • Victoria is my queen
Re: Extended Holidays and Home Insurance
« Reply #7 on: 25 June, 2019, 03:55:06 pm »
After Dad died and we were trying to sell the house we had some kind of specialist empty house insurance. I'll see if can find the details.

<mode = Tandem Club>Alternatively,  don't L & K or P & V go away for long periods of time? Why not ask them? /<mode>

Apparently we used a company called Arthur J Gallagher
There are two ways you can get exercise out of a bicycle: you can
"overhaul" it, or you can ride it.  (Jerome K Jerome)

Re: Extended Holidays and Home Insurance
« Reply #8 on: 25 June, 2019, 05:43:33 pm »
After Dad died and we were trying to sell the house we had some kind of specialist empty house insurance. I'll see if can find the details.

<mode = Tandem Club>Alternatively,  don't L & K or P & V go away for long periods of time? Why not ask them? /<mode>

Apparently we used a company called Arthur J Gallagher
By dint of coincidence, the same people provide all the insurances to my employer.

Re: Extended Holidays and Home Insurance
« Reply #9 on: 26 June, 2019, 11:04:03 am »
Thanks Tim et al, we'll persue the options.