Home owners leave properties without sufficient insurance - Telegraph.co.uk

This type of policy will provide the property owners with liability as well as offering protection against vandalism and break-ins, theft from garages and other outbuildings, as well as damage caused by storms, floods, water leaks, fire and smoke.

As with all insurance, premiums for this type of specialist cover will vary depending on the value and location of the property. But these specialist policies can often be cheaper than extending the level of protection on your current buildings and contents policy. For instance, a quote for specialist unoccupied cover for three months for a Fifties three-bedroom bungalow in Cardiff, cost just £254 – less than half the cost of extending the current cover.

However, not all homes will qualify for this type of cover and must adhere to certain conditions for the duration of the policy. For example, properties must be in a good state of repair and not boarded up and have robust locking mechanisms.

To reduce the likelihood of making a claim on an empty property, home owners should ensure they keep up the maintenance, service the boiler and central heating, look out for any fractured water pipes and have the electrics checked. It is also worth cutting back the garden and, where possible, asking a friend or neighbour to leave their car in the drive. Similarly, installing light-timer switches and clearing the post can reduce your risk of break-ins.

If the property is empty over the winter, policyholders should take steps to protect against winter conditions. This is especially important as figures from Hiscox show that last year the winter freeze accounted for the largest proportion of home and contents claims, ahead of fire and theft – and more than a quarter of these were for unoccupied properties.

So always check if the loft pipes and water tank are properly insulated. The pipes should be covered in felt or pipe-wrap, and the tank covered in a preformed insulation kit or polythene bags filled with glass wool or some other loose insulation fill-in.

Leave the loft hatch open as this will allow warm air to circulate and shut off water-heating appliances. If possible, leave the central heating running at a constant temperature, usually around 15C.

If the property is empty for a while, consider asking a plumber to "drain down" and refill the system at a later date.

Finally, ask a neighbour to check on the property and leave a contact number in case of emergencies. Most policies stipulate an empty property must be checked every seven days by a representative.