Unoccupied properties 'are an insurance issue for landlords'

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Landlords face an insurance headache when they look to cover unoccupied properties, an industry expert has claimed.

Lee Grandin, managing director of landlordinsurance.co.uk, explained that some policies excluded or placed limits on empty properties and that landlords should always watch out for these issues.

"It's important to make your insurer aware that you're doing works to the property, especially if it extends for more than 60 days," he added.

"If you don't disclose this information, your insurance will be invalid. You must tell the insurer when the property is unoccupied. It is a very important clause within the contract because there is a very high claim rate for unoccupied properties."

In addition, Mr Grandin pointed out that it was also vital for landlords to make sure they had liability insurance linked to their policy.

"What's important there is ... if the tenant injures themselves as a result of their property [the landlord] could be liable to significant costs due to negligence," he said.

"It's important to have a reasonable amount of cover linked onto the landlord insurance, probably up to the amount of about £2 million. You are a third party - somebody is living in your property."

A recent report from the Empty Homes Agency revealed that the number of long-term empty properties in the UK has dropped.

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