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Unoccupied homes may not be covered

04/10/05

Half of all home content insurance will not cover policy holders who leave a house unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days, Help the Aged Insurance claims.

Many big name insurers including Norwich Union Direct, Churchill and Admiral are among those who impose a 30-day deadline.

Getting a friend or relative to house-sit is one way round the problem but simply having someone pop round to check on the property every few days is not sufficient.

But insurers will often let policyholders extend their cover for an extra charge. Both Norwich Union and Barclays contents cover offer the option to upgrade to 60 days and beyond based on individual circumstances.

Churchill will increase its cover at no extra cost if policyholders ensure that their holiday is less than three months. But they must also inform the company of their travel plans and set up specific security measures. 

Other home insurance policies including Axa and Direct Line cover occupied houses for up to 60 days as standard. Age Concern offers standard cover for up to 45 days. 
The warning comes at the busiest time of the year for the over-55's to travel abroad, sometimes for months at a stretch.

Mark Christopher at Help the Aged Insurance says: "Nearly a fifth of our customers now go on trips for longer than a month.

"Our advice if you're escaping to warmer climes this autumn is to contact your insurance company in advance to find out what the situation is with your policy and make adequate arrangements."