Unoccupied property insurance policies are there to guard against such things as burst pipes, break-ins and all manner of other nasties that can befall an empty house.
But with December being the coldest on record since records began over 100 years ago, all owners and landlords will have to keep an eye out to help ensure that they are doing their best not to test their unoccupied property insurance.
In the domestic sector especially, it is so easy to let properties go and see them as ‘empty’ whilst between tenants, or before they are sold. But like motor cars that just sit in the same place for weeks on end, houses are physical structures that don’t do well being ignored and neglected.
An empty house for example usually doesn’t have any heat during the winter; this, as this last cold snap has proved, can cause all manner of problems. Now, when energy prices weren’t the preoccupation of the nation, landlords and owners could arguably afford to leave the heating on low, so helping to maintain the natural rhythm of a property and guard against cold snaps. Now, with oil, gas and electricity competing with gold as the most expensive commodities, few people can afford to heat empty houses.
So, therefore, if a property is likely to be left for some time, it has to undergo a mothballing procedure, which helps protects it against such things as snow and ice.
And if done properly, this will usually count in the owner’s favour when arranging unoccupied property insurance.
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