Vacant home insurance provides coverage when no one is home.

It’s your home and your investment. Safeguard it with vacant home insurance.

How Vacant Home Insurance Differs from Standard Homeowners Insurance

If you are relying on homeowners insurance for vacant home protection, review the vacancy clause carefully. Standard policies can still apply for a limited time, but they often change how claims are handled once the home passes the vacancy threshold. A vacant home policy is built for longer periods without occupants and is typically issued only after the insurer is notified.

  Why do you need to insure a vacant home?

If your home will be unoccupied for a period of time, you need vacant home insurance to protect your home and your investment, since home insurance only covers homes that are occupied.

Who Needs Vacant Home Insurance?

• Homes that are listed for sale and temporarily empty
• Homes with gaps between tenants, especially when they would otherwise be covered by landlord and rental property insurance
• Inherited homes that are sitting empty during probate or estate settlement
• Homes under renovation or remodeling
• Second homes and seasonal homes that sit empty for extended periods, including homes that may also need short-term rental insurance when they are rented to guests

Commercial locations need a different policy, such as vacant building insurance.

Inherited Homes and Probate

When you inherit a home, the existing policy may no longer apply once the home becomes vacant or ownership changes. Vacant home insurance can keep the home insured during probate while the estate clears out belongings, maintains the home, or prepares it for sale.

Short-Term and Seasonal Vacancy

Homes used for Airbnb turnovers, snowbird living patterns, and seasonal stays can go vacant long enough to trigger policy restrictions between visits. Vacant home insurance is ideal for these situations because it is designed for approved empty periods, while homes with active guest use may also need short-term rental insurance.

When Is a Home Considered Vacant for Insurance Purposes?

Most insurers consider a home vacant after 30 to 60 consecutive days, though the exact threshold varies by policy. In insurance terms, vacant usually means the home has been substantially emptied of people and personal belongings, while unoccupied means it is temporarily lived out of but still furnished and intended for use. That difference can affect whether unoccupied home insurance or empty home insurance is the better fit. Homes may become vacant while they are for sale, between tenants, or during remodeling or renovations. When a home sits empty, it can attract thieves, vandals, or trespassers, all of which increase the risk of damage or loss simply because no one is home.

Risks That Increase When a Property Sits Empty

Vacant homes by default have an increased risk for things like fire, flooding, and theft since there is no one to monitor them on a regular basis. For example, if a heating system fails, causing a pipe to burst, the water damage might not be discovered for days or weeks. The prolonged period of time can cause more damage than if the issue had been addressed immediately. Another example is if the home has a full mailbox, the lawn is unmowed, or the home has other signs of vacancy. In this case, someone could break in, cause damage, and steal appliances or furniture. Not only are the risks increased, but the level of coverage needed is as well.

Why Standard Homeowners Insurance Won’t Cover a Vacant Home

If your home will be unoccupied for a period of time, a standard homeowners insurance policy may not cover the same losses once the vacancy clause is triggered. Most policies reduce or suspend coverage after the home has been vacant for the number of days listed in the form, especially for vandalism, theft, water damage, and glass breakage claims. If a loss happens after that threshold, you could face denied claims, out-of-pocket repair costs, and liability exposure. Vacant property insurance fills that gap when a homeowners insurance for vacant home situation no longer fits the policy rules.

What Does Vacant Home Insurance Cover and What Does It Exclude?

A vacant home insurance policy can cover fire, flooding, wind, hail, theft, vandalism, and certain liability claims, depending on the form selected. It can also pay to repair or rebuild the home after a covered loss and can cover damage to detached structures or personal property left on site when those items are included. This type of vacant dwelling insurance is often written as a vacant house insurance policy with specific terms, limits, and maintenance requirements. Common exclusions can include gradual damage, mold, wear and tear, and mechanical breakdown, where the policy applies those exclusions.

Real-World Scenarios When Vacant Home Insurance Pays Off

The same risks that face homes and other properties also apply to vacant homes. However, with vacant homes, there is an increased likelihood of certain risk factors. If a foreclosed home is broken into by previous owners and the interior is destroyed, a covered claim can pay for repairs after the deductible. If a small fire starts in a vacant home and damages neighboring homes before being stopped, the policy can cover repairs to the vacant home and covered liability claims. If a home under renovation has appliances and fixtures stolen, the policy can reimburse the loss when theft coverage is included.

Request a Quote to compare coverage options for vacant house insurance.

Vacant Home Insurance FAQ

How long can a home be vacant before my homeowners insurance stops covering it?

Many policies start applying vacancy limitations after 30 to 60 consecutive days. Some coverage may remain in place, but claims for vandalism, theft, water damage, or broken glass are often reduced or denied after that point. Always check the exact number of days in your policy.

What is the difference between vacant and unoccupied home insurance?

Vacant usually means the home is empty of both people and most belongings. Unoccupied usually means the home is still furnished and intended for use, but no one is currently staying there. The distinction matters because insurers may treat vacant and unoccupied risks differently.

How much does vacant home insurance cost?

Vacant home insurance often costs more than a standard homeowners policy because the risk is higher. As a ballpark figure, premiums are commonly about 50% to 100% higher than comparable standard homeowners coverage, though pricing depends on the home, location, length of vacancy, and condition.

Can I get short-term vacant home insurance?

Yes. Many insurers offer short-term options for a few months at a time, which can work well during renovations, probate, a pending sale, or temporary seasonal vacancy.

Does vacant home insurance cover vandalism and break-ins?

It can, if vandalism and theft are included in the policy form you choose. That is one reason many homeowners switch from a standard policy to vacant home insurance once a home will sit empty long enough to trigger vacancy restrictions.