House Insurance when away

barge1914

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Hi

Slightly off topic but probably relevant. Trying to get house insurance to include 90 days un-occupation, twice a year. Was with Caravan Club who do 90 days and previously said two periods were ok (except for 90 days total for contents out of home), but now they are querying cover for two periods. I would urgently appreciate feedback from anyone who has got suitable cover from others.
 
We ask a relative to sleep over once a month while we are away - would that get round the problem?
 
How on earth would they ever know how long the house has been unocupied.just ask nab to look in once a week.
Any way anyone comes in here there likley to leave me some money.
 
If you claim

Insurance companies ask for proof of travel details
eg Boat or Tunnel tickets
And will refuse to payout if they are not satisfied..
I know and have not had a failed claim as I provided details

However based on previous dealings (x2) I know that insurance companies will pay as little as they can
From their perspective that is "their job"

So beware !!!

Not sure what happens if you only travel in UK mainland !
 
We ask a relative to sleep over once a month while we are away - would that get round the problem?

My old insurer would not allow that, also wanted you to drain boiler down in case of burst pipes. What about any residual water left in system? Silly buggers. That was Legal and general.
 
Now what are you saying ?

I am sure Trev has a lot of ongoing projects

:wave:

To many so slowing down and getting rid of most,four cars gong tomorrow and another later in week,i might see the garden soon.:scared:
 
To many so slowing down and getting rid of most,four cars gong tomorrow and another later in week,i might see the garden soon.:scared:
:giggle:

Sure you'd only have to start mowing and weeding and all that other horticulutual stuff Trev !!!
 
Hi

Slightly off topic but probably relevant. Trying to get house insurance to include 90 days un-occupation, twice a year. Was with Caravan Club who do 90 days and previously said two periods were ok (except for 90 days total for contents out of home), but now they are querying cover for two periods. I would urgently appreciate feedback from anyone who has got suitable cover from others.

Maybe not 100% ethical but if, heaven forbid, anything should happen, you would quite rightly just say you were away for 90 days, as permitted under your policy. There would be no reason to mention it was the second time within a year... would there? After a claim, I'd definitely make sure I had cover for both periods... so and so's law and all that.

On the other hand, I just Googled the words "home insurance long absence" and (ignoring the 'ads' section at the top) it came up with search links for Go Compare, etc, plus a company that seems to specialise... Insure your home when away on long holiday | HomeProtect

Plus a 'top 10' list of unoccupied home insurers ... Top 10 Unoccupied House Insurance - Empty Property Cover

Thanks for raising the topic though because I hadn't really kept an eye on this and realise I've exceeded my current house insurance limit a few times!
 
We are members of Camping and Caravan Club and have house insurance through them, they give 180 days per year unoccupied cover.
 
Insurance

We are members of Camping and Caravan Club and have house insurance through them, they give 180 days per year unoccupied cover.

Thanks for all the words.

Got some quotes, lots of conditions, less cover than before. Went back to C&MC (Devitt). Got someone else to check around their insurers. Quoted £100 less than the so called ‘specialist’ insurers. 2x90 days for buildings, contents, personal items out of the house, cover for stuff moved into motorhome...sorted...eventually. Basically wasted a day on the phone because not all their staff are not up to speed on their policies!
 
Yes

Thanks for all the words.

Got some quotes, lots of conditions, less cover than before. Went back to C&MC (Devitt). Got someone else to check around their insurers. Quoted £100 less than the so called ‘specialist’ insurers. 2x90 days for buildings, contents, personal items out of the house, cover for stuff moved into motorhome...sorted...eventually. Basically wasted a day on the phone because not all their staff are not up to speed on their policies!

I have had similar problems ensuring "first receiver staff" fully understand the detail of the situation.
Thus quote accordingly and you are sure that you are indeed covered !

After all no point in having insurance (motorhome or house) if you do not declare your situation 100%.
If you are "economical with the truth" it could lead to a claim being denied or its settlement value reduced
I have had 2 bad experiences with insurance claims.
Neither of them a real problem mainly just annoying to see them "Wriggle out" of paying the full amount !
In both cases not in anyway due to inaccuracy on my part !

PS I have had other minor claims which were settled in full and efficiently
 
C&CM club house insurance

I have had similar problems ensuring "first receiver staff" fully understand the detail of the situation.
Thus quote accordingly and you are sure that you are indeed covered !

After all no point in having insurance (motorhome or house) if you do not declare your situation 100%.
If you are "economical with the truth" it could lead to a claim being denied or its settlement value reduced
I have had 2 bad experiences with insurance claims.
Neither of them a real problem mainly just annoying to see them "Wriggle out" of paying the full amount !
In both cases not in anyway due to inaccuracy on my part !

PS I have had other minor claims which were settled in full and efficiently


Hi
They don't make it easy! Anyone else insured with this lot?

If so can I ask ask if your policy documents say the same, and see what you think of insurers! Are you happy you are clear what the policy wording means? They use a fairly standard L&G policy and by negotiation with the insurers have negotiated extra terms for caravan and motorhome owners which are covered by additional clauses in the policy schedule.


The subject of period of un-occupation is dealt with very briefly by the wording…

<<Your Insurer has agreed that the exclusions of loss or damage occuring if YOUR HOME is left UNOCCUPIED UP TO 90 days. >>

However this is an incomplete and grammatically meaningless sentence missing the most essential words <<do not apply>>.

When I challenged Devitt about this they acknowledged the lack of clarity (which I take to mean cock-up), but nevertheless their respondent assured me verbally and vigorously, that these are the words agreed with the insurers, and that they are meant to mean that all the exclusions for un-occupation in the policy do indeed not apply during any period of absence of up to 90 days continuously. Another respondent confirmed that the cover is not limited to one 90 day period, and that what I had been told last year and the year before to the contrary, was in fact incorrect (so far the last few years I have been pointlessly double insuring items out of the home). The other person I had spoken to yesterday didn't seem at all sure what the policy covered...probably just one 90 day period...although nothing in the policy said so, promised to come back, never did and failed to record half of what I had told her in the policy schedule...arrrgh!

The only 2 clauses that go into any detail are…

Q013 Unoccupied 

Q014 Enhanced contents & personal items cover

…but both of these only relate to contents, or items out of the home, or in a van or under an awning.

Everything else is dealt with under the following ‘umbrella’ statement…

<<Wherever the following exclusion appears in your policy booklet:
. Loss or damage when your home is unoccupied for more than 60 days in a row.
It is replaced with:
. Loss or damage when your home is unoccupied for more than 90 days in a row. >>

These are 'intended' to set aside the considerable and onerous list of exclusions that otherwise apply when a house is un-occupied.

I suggested that their policy documents are as clear as mud, they seemed to acknowledge this and said they would discuss this with their insurers…I’m not holding my breath!! They certainly like to give themselves wriggle room.

Ian
 

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