"Having an unoccupied home can create several insurance implications that typically are not covered under a standard homeowners policy."
Homeowner policies are meant to insure homes that are occupied, so theygenerally include exclusions for neglect or property abandonment on a home left vacant or unoccupied for a specified number of consecutive days.
In insurance terms, a vacant home is one the resident has moved out of and taken his/her belongings with him/her. An unoccupied home is one where the resident is not staying at the home, but the furniture and
other belongings remain.
Because vacant and unoccupied homes pose a higher risk for damage than occupied homes, insurance companies insure these properties differently and usually at a higher price.
These risks include break-ins, no emergency response and property liability. When a home has been unoccupied for awhile, it can show signs that nobody is around—unkempt lawn, full mailbox, no lights on tipping off burglars to an easy target.
Without anyone home to call 911 or respond to emergencies, a manageable problem—such as a small electrical fire—can turn into a much larger,more costly disaster.
There is no one present to preventothers from entering the property or to supervise activity, which could
increase the likeliness of an accident on the premises or property damage when the owner is not there.
The definition of vacancy and unoccupancy can vary from policy to policy. Some insurers may not pay claims if a home is vacant for 60 days or more. Some policies might automatically shift to a different amount of coverage
(e.g., liability insurance only) after a specific number of days unoccupied.
Many policies have a "vacancy clause" that can be triggered if the homeowner is gone for an extended period of time. If this happens, the homeowner could violate the terms of their contract and some or all of their coverage may not apply in the event of a loss.
"Before you decide to leave a home vacant or unoccupied for a long period of time, talk to your insurance agent or company to learn how they define vacancy and unoccupancy, and whether the company will pay claims if a house is unoccupied.
"Be honest about your situation, because while an extra policy might cost more, it could save you money down the road should there be an accident or damage to the home."
Many insurance companies offeran endorsement that will provide coverage for a dwelling that is unoccupied for an extended period of time. Vacancy policies can also be purchased for different term lengths to cover a few months to a year, depending on the need.
The cost of vacancy coverage depends onthe company and state in which the property is located, but costs
usually are higher than a typical homeowners policy due to the overall increase in risk.
