Generally speaking, vacant refers to a property that is completely empty – lacking both people and personal items. While the term unoccupied refers to a property that has been left in a state where all items are as if the owners were to return at any point .
What is the difference between vacant and unoccupied?
When a property is being renovated and the project is limited enough to allow furniture and other personal property to remain , the home is typically considered unoccupied. When the insured has temporarily moved out to facilitate the project and property removed and stored elsewhere, the property is considered vacant.
What does unoccupied mean for home insurance?
Even if it is not vacant , a building is unoccupied when people are absent. The wording in many property insurance policies limits reduces or entirely eliminates coverage when a building has been vacant (or, in some forms, vacant or unoccupied) for a designated period of time such as 45 or 60 days.
How long can I leave my house unoccupied?
Generally, if you plan to leave your home vacant or unoccupied for 30 days or more, you’ll want to purchase unoccupied or vacant house insurance. While terms vary by policy, most insurance companies will deny claims that are made if your home is left alone for longer than 30 days.
Can you insure a home that is unoccupied?
If your home is vacant for more than 30 days, you’ll generally have no coverage at all unless you ‘ve informed your insurance provider and they accept the risk. In these cases, there is usually an increased premium, and some providers may require you to pay a monthly fee for a vacancy permit.
Does unoccupied mean empty?
without occupants ; empty; vacant. not held or controlled by invading forces: unoccupied nations. not busy or active; idle; not gainfully employed: an unoccupied person.
What is another word for unoccupied?
In this page you can discover 33 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for unoccupied, like: occupied , quiescent, empty, abandoned, un-occupied, vacant, tenantless, at-leisure, deserted, idle and inactive.
Is vacant home insurance more expensive?
Because unoccupied and vacant homes often pose a greater risk, vacant home insurance is expensive — averaging about 1.5 to 3 times more than a standard insurance policy for an occupied home, according to insurance.com.
How often should an empty house be checked?
This is why an empty home can void a home insurance policy. In order to minimize the risk, insurance companies often require a home to be checked in on every 48-72 hours . The exact period of time varies by insurer, so be sure you know what your home insurance policy requires.
What makes a house vacant?
A property is vacant when there is no personal property inside the home to allow for someone to live there . If there is a bed, a chair and table where a person could sleep and eat (and it is their intention to return) then it is no longer “vacant.”
What happens when a house sits unoccupied?
Your Lender Might Lock You Out. Vacant homes are targets for theft and vandalism . Therefore, when a homeowner’s mortgage payments become delinquent, one of the first things many lenders do to protect their interest in the property is to look into whether the owner has abandoned it.
What temperature should an unoccupied house be kept at?
Set your thermostat appropriately.
As a general rule of thumb, leave the heat on and set your thermostat between 55 and 60 degrees . Digital thermostats are a great fit for vacant homes or vacation rentals that are temporarily used.
How long can a house be vacant insurance?
While many insurers will cover unoccupied homes for up to 60 or 90 days , there are some landlord insurance policies that require you to notify the insurer each time your home is left vacant due to a change of tenant.
How do you protect an empty house?
- Lock and secure all windows and doors. ...
- Give a neighbor or friend an extra key. ...
- Take care of your yard. ...
- Install motion detector lights. ...
- Remove valuables from the home. ...
- Keep home security system sign out front. ...
- Keep your alarm system up and running.
How do I leave my house empty?
- Put bins out to be emptied on bin day and store them away from the home so they can’t be used to climb and access windows.
- Keep outside plants and lawns trim.
- Ask neighbours to keep an eye out for ‘roof contractors’ if you don’t have work scheduled.
Why is vacant home insurance so expensive?
Unoccupied or vacant property insurance is significantly more expensive than a homeowners policy because it’s considered riskier than an occupied property . ... However, insurance providers assume the property isn’t going to be vacant forever, so they generally let you prorate the policy for the time it will be vacant.
