UK Home Insurance Specialists

Insuring an Empty House After Death of the Owner

Compare Probate and Empty Home Insurance Quotes

Dealing with a property left empty following a bereavement? Standard home insurance often becomes invalid once a property is unoccupied, leaving executors exposed at exactly the wrong time. Compare specialist probate and empty home insurance quotes designed for this situation.

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Compare quotes from specialist UK unoccupied and probate property insurance providers

Cover while the property is empty during probate

Buildings, contents, fire and theft cover

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Quotes are provided by a panel of specialist unoccupied and probate property insurance providers. All providers are FCA regulated.

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FCA regulated providers

Compare Probate Insurance in Minutes

Compare quotes from brokers who specialise in cover for empty properties during probate.

Cover for the property while probate is ongoing
Buildings, contents, fire and theft cover included
No requirement to have finalised the estate first
Panel of FCA-regulated specialist brokers only
One quick form, multiple quotes to compare
100% free, no obligation to buy

Why Compare Probate Insurance with MultiQuoteTime?

When a property owner dies, existing home insurance often has shortfalls, or becomes void entirely, once the property sits empty during probate, exactly the moment an executor needs cover the most.

The current insurer may choose not to continue cover once they learn the property is empty and going through probate, leaving the executor to arrange new cover at short notice. Going to a single insurer also means missing out on comparing pricing and terms elsewhere.

MultiQuoteTime gives you one simple form linked to a panel of specialist brokers we have access to, so you can compare probate insurance quotes side by side. If the property is empty for a different reason, our main guide to unoccupied home insurance covers the full range of situations.

A Guide to Insuring an Empty House After the Death of the Owner

When a loved one dies, their passing can often leave behind an unoccupied property. It’s important to make sure the empty property stays covered by existing insurance, and this responsibility usually falls to the executor. If you’re the executor, arranging the right insurance policy becomes part of your role.

Home insurance doesn’t automatically continue after a homeowner’s death. A probate period applies, during which the ultimate disposal of the property is determined. If the property was already insured, there’s sometimes a possibility of transferring the policy to a surviving spouse, though this isn’t guaranteed. In other cases, the property is left unoccupied while probate is ongoing.

Any existing home insurance may quickly become invalid once a property is left empty, which is why short-term unoccupied house insurance is usually needed to protect it during this period.

Key takeaway: Notify the home insurer of the policyholder’s death as soon as possible, this applies to all insurance policies held in the deceased’s name. Then arrange probate house insurance, either with the existing provider or a new one.

Can the Executor of the Will Insure the House?

Yes, an executor can insure the house of the deceased. See our executor checklist for more information on the full range of executor responsibilities.

What Is Empty House Insurance, and What Is Probate?

What Is Empty House Insurance?

A home insurance policy applies to a property that remains occupied. There are situations that can invalidate that cover, the most common being a home left empty after the owner’s death. The same applies if you own more than one property and leave one unoccupied for a run of consecutive days.

This is where unoccupied home insurance comes in: a policy that protects a residential property, or a commercial one, when it’s left empty for an extended period. Common reasons a property ends up unoccupied include property renovations, a property being up for sale, or a lack of tenants.

What Is Probate?

Probate is the period during which a deceased person’s will is formally proved, confirming it’s valid and genuinely theirs. For most estates this is straightforward, but if the will is disputed by a third party, the process can become drawn out.

A specific type of cover, probate house insurance, is available to protect the property throughout this period.

Who Offers Probate Insurance?

Most insurance brokers are able to arrange probate insurance. UK insurers associated with providing probate policies include the following, though it’s always worth comparing others too:

Admiral probate insurance
LV probate insurance
Saga probate insurance
AXA probate insurance
Direct Line unoccupied home insurance

Is Unoccupied Home Insurance More Expensive?

Unoccupied house insurance is more expensive, and for understandable reasons. An empty property presents extra risk to the insurer. Our main guide to unoccupied home insurance covers these risks in more detail, along with tips on how to help keep costs down.

4 Steps to Insuring an Empty House After Death

If you’re dealing with a house left empty after someone’s death, here are the steps to take to get it properly insured.

1. Review Current Home Insurance Policies

If the house already has a home insurance policy in place, it’s easy to assume cover will simply carry on once the property is transferred to a new owner or inheritor. That isn’t necessarily the case, it depends on the insurer. Check with the insurance provider on what happens to the policy given the property’s current status. If the house was under a normal home insurance policy, that policy often becomes null and void.

2. Seek an Unoccupied Home Insurance Policy

You’ll likely need to move any existing policy onto one that covers an empty house, usually called unoccupied house insurance. For changes to a policy involving a deceased person, insurers will typically require evidence of death, such as a death certificate, along with documentation confirming who’s entitled to make the changes. It’s also worth checking whether existing policies on the estate were issued by different insurers.

3. Reach Out to Your Home Insurance Company

Once you’ve confirmed the property’s current policies and established that it’s unoccupied, contact the insurer directly and explain the situation. The current insurer may choose to continue cover or opt out entirely. If they opt out, you’ll need to shop for a new policy. Before agreeing to anything, read the terms and conditions carefully, some policies require conditions like frequent visits to the property or higher-standard locks.

4. Secure the Home

Unoccupied houses are an easy target for burglars, so securing the property matters. Make temporary arrangements until a longer-term plan is in place. Some practical steps to help keep the property secure:

Make sure all windows and doors are locked, with standard locks throughout
Collect post regularly, or ask a trusted neighbour or friend to do this for you
Put lights on a timer, especially useful during winter’s shorter daylight hours
Leave your contact details with a trusted neighbour who can flag any suspicious activity
Cancel any regular deliveries to the property, such as milk or newspapers
Keep the driveway and garden tidy so the property looks occupied

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, specialist insurance is available to provide cover during probate.

In most cases, home insurance terminates upon the death of the policyholder. This is also true for most other insurance policies, including car and home contents insurance. Some providers may offer a grace period of 30 days, while others may allow the policy to continue until its expiration date, though you should always check directly with the insurance provider. The best advice is to contact the insurer immediately to arrange temporary cover if required.

If you inherit a house, the previous owner’s policy doesn’t automatically transfer to you, and you’ll need to take out your own policy. If you don’t intend to live in the property, or if it will be vacant for more than 30 days, you’ll need to take out probate house insurance for an unoccupied property.

The purpose of homeowner’s insurance is to protect a property that’s in your name. If you’ve inherited a property that isn’t yet in your name, you can take out probate insurance instead. Speak with the current home insurance provider for further advice.

Yes, probate insurance is designed to provide cover for a property during the probate period. As the executor of the will, you’re responsible for ensuring the property is properly insured.

If the property isn’t yet in your name or the beneficiary’s name, you’ll need specialist probate insurance. This can be arranged by the solicitor or the executor of the will, so contact them for confirmation.

The first step is to contact the insurer that manages the home insurance. They should be notified as quickly as possible to avoid invalidating the current policy. Work with the insurer to ensure the policy remains active while the executor organises the estate.

Most probate insurance providers limit the contents cover, so make sure any valuables are removed and stored in a secure location. Alternatively, you can request additional cover from the insurance provider, though most providers typically apply a limit, usually around £1,000 per item.

Last Updated: 13 July 2026

Reviewed by: Eamonn Turley, Insurance Specialist