After the catching cats thread, sadly my friend passed away on Friday and as executor on his will, solicitors have told me his empty house is now my responsibility ☹️ fairly std 3 bed detached 1980s brick built house. I'm thinking all internal doors open, all rads on, central thermostat set to 10C. It's an old gas fired system without trvs ☹️
sorry for loss of your friend.
Pretty sure insurance co will insist on water being drained from systems ie cold water pipework and loft tanks
Pretty sure insurance co will insist on water being drained from systems ie cold water pipework and loft tanks
No such stipulations & I had to take out fresh insurance because he had none - was quite hard finding one that would insure empty house as new business.
Checked my policy this is what it says
7.Escape of water/burst pipes
What is covered?
We will pay for loss of or damage to Your Buildings or Contents as a result of water escaping from water
tanks, pipes, fixed equipment, any domestic appliance or fixed heating systems, or as a result of water
freezing in water tanks, equipment or pipes.
What am I not covered for?
We will not pay for loss or damage:
• if Your House is Unfurnished or Unoccupied
if its empty I'd be draining down water system and do as you say and leave heating on low.
No such stipulations & I had to take out fresh insurance because he had none – was quite hard finding one that would insure empty house as new business.
Indeed - well done for finding somewhere that will do it. Presume it'll need regular inspections? The cynic in me would suggest a little book with dates, times of visits in.
Unoccupied properties usually need the water system entirely drained, or left on as you have suggested. I'd probably suggest leaving a more normal routine on the heating over winter to keep the chill off and keep the house and contents in better condition.
Sorry for your loss.
Thanks, that's a good idea, I was thinking of just turning off the mains but draining it down & keeping heating on is best plan, have to get in the loft & check state of f & e tank.
Indeed – well done for finding somewhere that will do it. Presume it’ll need regular inspections?
Indeed they do, but a fair bit to sort out so going over weekly won't be a chore - good thinking re note book.
Insurance on an empty house is about 3x the price of an occupied one. We have saga insurance and can only leave house unoccupied for 60 days, then the policy states occupier tasks have to be undertaken, cooking, showering. I understand the onus is on us to prove we comply so I take meter reads, we aren't on a smart meter, and a log of visits via travel docs. Of course the latter does not prove I was at the house but it helps make out a case.
Also thinking of installing the WiFi cameras as per the recent thread on here.
Gas engineer told me to leave thermostat on 24 hours and set temp at min, think it's 8. I leave all internal doors open, windows locked, hidden bins as its a giveaway and told neighbours. Clear out any food so as not to attract vermin. Keep an eye on gutters, drains etc.
We also let a neighbour park on the drive.
Hope it helps.
Take in some Ukrainians?
Sorry for your loss. I think I'd be talking to the insurers to see what they advise, that way they can't turn it back on you if something goes wrong.
How's the cat?
We have saga insurance and can only leave house unoccupied for 60 days, then the policy states occupier tasks have to be undertaken, cooking, showering. I understand the onus is on us to prove we comply so I take meter reads, we aren’t on a smart meter, and a log of visits via travel docs. Of course the latter does not prove I was at the house but it helps make out a case.
That's very different from taking out a policy specifically for an unoccupied house. The 60 day thing (sometimes 30) is designed for houses with usual occupancy and the occasional big family vacation etc.
It's not necessarily appropriate for second homes, or ones where the house is routinely unoccupied.
There's a load of consumer friendly legislation around this, but ultimately there's a fair chance many insurers will treat un-notified unoccupancy as mis-representation and will be able to void (cancel) the policy post-claim.
Tread carefully and don't assume you have found a loophole.
As you say, properly arranged cover is way more expensive.
Echo what's said above. We kept MIL's house going for the three years she was in a Nursing Home - heating low, but always on, boiler serviced, sepcific insurance. Have you also got the hassle with bills - has he any family with POA.
British Gas have been pretty shoot with MIL's house - they knew the situation, but on her death transferred the bill into my wife's name (wlecome to your new house letters etc), and threattened with debt recovery even though the account was in credit for the house. Took weeks to sort.
My house was empty for six months across winter when I was away travelling. I took out specific insurance and set the heating to 10 degrees permanently. The gas bill was trivial.
Insurance on an empty house is about 3x the price of an occupied one.
Yeah, insurance was pretty hefty, still waiting for docs to check t&C's
Have you also got the hassle with bills – has he any family with POA.
Yet to speak to utilities, as only available Mon-Fri, family is complicated but because of that & as executor to his estate its all down to me to sort, fortunately like a few people who live frugally unbeknown to me he's pretty well off.
How’s the cat?
I'm told the cat is doing really well 🙂
