How standard home insurance may restrict cover when a probate property is empty, what specialist unoccupied-property cover includes, what to tell your insurer, and how to compare terms.
This guide is part of ProbateHelp's Estate Assets guide cluster. Estimated reading time: 10 min.
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Yes. Ask the insurer or broker what evidence they need. Many will work from the death certificate, your executor details, and evidence that you are dealing with the estate, rather than waiting for the Grant of Probate.
Ask about inspection frequency before you buy the policy. Some policies require 7-day checks, while others allow 14-day or monthly checks. If you live far away, use a trusted local person or property inspection service and keep the invoices as estate records.
The insurer needs the policyholder and insurable interest to reflect the death and the empty-property risk. In practice, that usually means updating the deceased's policy or arranging a new policy in the executor's or estate's name. Confirm the wording with the insurer.
Many specialist unoccupied policies can be cancelled when the property is sold, sometimes with a refund for the unused period after fees. Check cancellation terms before you buy, because short-term policies and annual policies handle this differently.
It depends what remains in the house. If furniture, jewellery, tools, documents, or saleable contents are still there, ask for contents cover. If the house has been cleared, buildings-only cover may be enough.
Tell the insurer or broker before you buy. Poor condition, previous escape-of-water issues, flood risk, security problems, or a long vacancy can all change the cover available. Non-disclosure can give the insurer grounds to refuse a claim.