Will Your Home Insurance Become Invalid If You Leave Your Home for an Extended Period?

The answer is: not necessarily.

A temporary absence does not automatically invalidate your home insurance. However, if your property is left unattended for an extended period, your policy may have specific conditions regarding an unoccupied or vacant home. If these requirements are not followed, certain coverage may be restricted or affected.

Before leaving your home for an extended period, here are a few important things to understand.

1. What Is the Difference Between Unoccupied and Vacant?

In home insurance, the terms Unoccupied and Vacant both refer to a property where nobody is currently living. However, they generally describe different situations.

Unoccupied

An unoccupied home typically refers to a property where nobody is temporarily living, but the owner still intends to return and use it as their residence.

For example:

• The homeowner is travelling for several weeks.
• The homeowner is visiting family overseas for one or two months.
• The homeowner is temporarily staying somewhere else but plans to return to the original property.

Vacant

A vacant home generally refers to a property where nobody is living and there is no immediate intention for someone to move back in.

For example:

• The owner has moved to a new home, while the previous property remains unsold or unrented.
• A property is listed for sale and nobody is living there.
• Tenants have moved out, and the property remains empty while waiting for new tenants.

The main difference is whether the property is temporarily unoccupied or has effectively been left vacant.

However, the definitions of Unoccupied and Vacant, as well as the applicable time limits, vary between insurance companies. You should not rely on the number of days alone to determine how your property is classified. Always check your policy wording or confirm with your insurance broker.

2. How Long Can You Leave Your Home Before Notifying Your Insurer?

This is something many homeowners may overlook.

Some insurance companies have specific time limits for how long a property can remain unoccupied. For example, certain policies may use a period of 30 consecutive days or another specified timeframe.

If your absence exceeds the period stated in your policy, you may be required to notify your insurance company in advance and follow additional conditions.

Depending on the insurer and policy, these requirements may include:

• Arranging for a trusted person to inspect the property regularly.
• Maintaining adequate indoor heating during winter to prevent frozen pipes.
• Shutting off the main water supply in certain circumstances.
• Having someone periodically check the heating, plumbing, and general condition of the property.

These are examples of possible requirements, not universal rules that apply to every insurance policy.

If you plan to leave your home unattended for more than a few weeks, it is best to contact your insurance broker or insurer beforehand to confirm whether notification or additional arrangements are required.

3. Which Coverage Should You Be Most Concerned About?

One of the biggest concerns when leaving a home unattended for an extended period is water damage.

For example:

• A sudden burst pipe.
• A leak from the heating or plumbing system.
• A broken washing machine or dishwasher supply hose.
• Pipes freezing and bursting because the indoor temperature is too low during winter.

When someone is living in the home, a leak may be discovered relatively quickly. However, when nobody is around, water can continue leaking for an extended period before anyone notices, potentially resulting in much more extensive damage.

For this reason, some insurance companies impose additional conditions on water damage coverage when a property is left unoccupied for an extended period.

For example, a policy may require the homeowner to:

• Shut off the main water supply and drain the plumbing system where required; or
• Maintain adequate indoor heating during winter and arrange for someone to inspect the property regularly.

If these policy requirements are not followed, a water damage claim may be affected.

Keep in mind that having water damage coverage on your policy does not automatically mean every water damage incident will be covered while your home is unoccupied. Coverage will depend on the cause of the loss, the policy wording, and whether the required conditions have been met.

4. What Should You Do Before Leaving Your Home During Winter?

In British Columbia, winter temperatures can drop considerably. One of the main risks when leaving a property unattended during colder months is frozen pipes.

If you plan to be away during winter, consider the following precautions:

• Maintain adequate indoor heating: If your policy requires heating to be maintained while you are away, follow the insurer’s specified temperature and conditions.
• Check the main water supply: Confirm whether your insurer requires you to shut off the main water supply or take other precautions to prevent water damage.
• Arrange regular inspections: Ask someone you trust to inspect the property as required by your policy and check for leaks, heating issues, or other signs of trouble.
• Secure doors and windows: Make sure all doors and windows are properly closed and locked to reduce the risk of unauthorized entry.

Simply turning off the heating or shutting off the water supply may not be appropriate for every property. The right precautions depend on your plumbing and heating systems, as well as your insurer’s requirements.

5. What If Your Property Will Remain Vacant for an Extended Period?

If you are not simply going away temporarily, but intend to leave your property vacant for a longer period, such as while waiting for it to be sold, undergoing renovations, or waiting for new tenants, you should notify your insurance company before the property becomes vacant.

Your insurer may need to reassess the risk and determine whether your existing home insurance can remain in place or whether you need to switch to a Vacant Property Insurance policy.

Vacant property insurance may have different coverage options, conditions, and limitations compared with a standard home insurance policy. You should not assume that your existing policy will continue to provide exactly the same protection once the property becomes vacant.

Final Thoughts

Leaving your home unattended for an extended period does not automatically mean your home insurance will become invalid. However, the length of your absence, whether the property is considered unoccupied or vacant, and whether you comply with your policy requirements can all affect your coverage.

If you are planning to travel, visit family overseas, or spend an extended period away from Canada, consider confirming the following with your insurance broker or insurer before leaving:

1. How does your policy define Unoccupied and Vacant?
2. How long can your property remain unoccupied before you need to notify your insurer?
3. Are you required to shut off the main water supply or maintain indoor heating while you are away?
4. Do you need to arrange for someone to inspect the property regularly?
5. If the property will remain vacant for an extended period, do you need to change your policy or obtain different coverage?

Home insurance is not just about protecting a property while someone is living in it. When your home is left unattended, understanding your policy requirements in advance is equally important.