Standard home insurance does not always continue on normal terms once a property is empty. That is why executors should not assume the old policy remains fully suitable just because premiums are still being paid. The…
Standard home insurance does not always continue on normal terms once a property is empty. That is why executors should not assume the old policy remains fully suitable just because premiums are still being paid.
The insurer needs to be told that the owner has died and that the property may now be unoccupied. They may impose conditions around inspections, heating, draining down systems, locks, alarms or water shut-off. Those conditions matter. An uninsured leak in a vacant house can become an expensive lesson very quickly.
The right insurance position is not something to tidy up later. It is one of the first practical tasks.
Related reading
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- Empty probate properties: insurance, security, council tax and the quiet risks that can erode valueEmpty probate properties: insurance, security, council tax and the quiet risks that can erode value/probate-guides/empty-probate-property-risks/
- What immediate steps should we take to secure the house?What immediate steps should we take to secure the house?/knowledge-hub/how-to-secure-a-probate-property-after-death/
- What do we do with all the contents?What do we do with all the contents?/knowledge-hub/what-to-do-with-the-contents-of-a-probate-property/
- How often should someone check on a vacant probate property?How often should someone check on a vacant probate property?/knowledge-hub/how-often-to-check-a-vacant-probate-property/
- Can an empty probate property become a target for fraud?Can an empty probate property become a target for fraud?/knowledge-hub/can-an-empty-probate-property-be-targeted-for-fraud/
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