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Short term home insurance
Everything you need to know about protecting your property
22 November 2024
When buying home insurance, don't assume that the only option you have is to buy it for a whole year. If you feel you don't need cover to last that long, fortunately there are options to get home insurance, but for a short period. This guide looks at what exactly short-term home insurance is, when you need it, and how to get the best policy if so.
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What is short-term home insurance?
Most insurers prefer to offer annual policies, as they commit you to coverage for the entire year. However, if you know your circumstances will change within the next 12 months, a short-term home insurance policy might be a more suitable option.
Instead of locking into a year-long policy, short-term home insurance provides coverage for a specific, shorter duration. In the next section, we’ll explain the key reasons why this type of policy might work better for you.
It's important to note that the reason you need short-term home insurance will influence the level of coverage the insurer provides. For instance, if you are living in the home permanently, you may still qualify for full coverage. However, if the property is unoccupied, the coverage will likely come with restrictions. For more details, see our guide to unoccupied home insurance.
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When do you need short-term home insurance?
Here are some some examples of why you'd get a short term policy:
- Your home is for sale.
- You’ve already moved out of this house into another house (again, pending its sale).
- The home has been sold and you are waiting for it to complete.
- You are in short term rented accommodation.
- You are a student in temporary accommodation.
- The home is of a deceased family member and is for sale.
- You are waiting for probate to come through regarding the home of a deceased family member.
Note: If you already have an annual policy, most insurers are flexible to adjust the cover via a phone call.
What does short-term home insurance cover?
The coverage you receive depends on why you’re getting short-term home insurance and the type of protection you need. If the property is your permanent residence and is regularly lived in, you should still qualify for standard home insurance coverage. This typically protects you against significant events like fire, burglary, or storm damage.
It’s also worth noting that buildings insurance is usually only applicable to freehold homeowners. If you don’t own the freehold, this responsibility typically falls to your landlord or the management company – check your lease if you're unsure.
When it comes to contents insurance, everyone should consider it. This policy protects your personal belongings against loss or damage.
To break it down further, there are three main types of home insurance:
- Buildings insurance: Covers the structure of your home, including permanent fixtures and fittings.
- Contents insurance: Think of it as covering everything that would fall out if you turned your home upside down. This is especially important for everyone to have, and if you're renting, check out our dedicated tenants' contents insurance guide.
- Combined buildings and contents insurance: This single policy covers both the structure of your home and your belongings. It’s a popular choice for freehold homeowners, as it’s often cheaper and can simplify claims by involving just one insurer.
Keep in mind, insurance policies vary, so always review the details of yours carefully. Generally speaking, home insurance will cover you (as long as it’s your permanent residence and regularly occupied), but the specifics depend on your policy.
What home insurance does cover you for
What you ARE usually covered for |
| Repair from damage. Eg, from escaping water (such as a burst pipe), falling trees, fire, flooding, storms, subsidence and vandalism. |
| Replacement of stolen items. Typically covered by contents element, protecting the possessions in your home, garage and shed. |
| Legal liability. A contents policy usually covers you if a visitor is seriously injured and you're at fault, a buildings policy covers you if the structure injures a pass-by or, or damages a neighbour's property. |
| Alternative accommodation. If you can't stay at your home following a fire or flood. The cost of a hotel or B&B is usually covered. |
| Replacement keys and locks. If damaged, or your keys go missing. |
| Replacement of spoiled food. If your freezer breaks down. |
Whether you have a short-term or annual policy, there are common exclusions that apply—and even more so if the property is NOT your permanent residence or isn’t regularly occupied by you or your immediate family. For more details, check out our unoccupied home insurance guide. In the meantime, here are some things you typically won’t be insured for:
What home insurance doesn't cover
| What you CAN'T usually claim for |
| Wear and tear. You can't claim for damage that happens over time, such as a carpet fading. |
| Incidents during renovation. Damage caused by major structural work typically isn't covered. |
| Damage caused by contractors. Workers should have their own cover in place. |
| Damage caused by poor maintenance. You're unlikely to succeed with a property damage claim if you left it in a poor state. |
| Lost items. If you've lost something and believe it to have gone missing with no sign of forced entry or any physical force. |
Why won't regular home insurance cover my property while I'm away?
Most home insurance policies cover your home while you're away, as long as your absence doesn’t exceed the typical limit of 30 days. However, if you’re planning to be away for longer, dedicated unoccupied home insurance offers extended protection beyond the usual 30-day period.
Insurers impose unoccupancy restrictions because longer absences increase the risk of issues like vandalism, leaks, or other forms of water damage going unnoticed for weeks or even months, which can lead to higher repair costs.
If you know you'll be away from your home for an extended period, an unoccupied home insurance policy could be the best way to protect yourself financially. Learn more about what this type of insurance covers – and what it doesn’t – below.
Finally, remember to notify your insurance provider if your property will be empty for longer than the agreed-upon period stated in your policy. Failing to do so could invalidate your cover, meaning your provider might refuse to pay out for any claims you make.
How can you get a good deal on short-term insurance?
To get the best price on your home insurance, it’s important to make yourself (and your property) an attractive risk to insurers. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take to achieve this.
- Buy your policy early: Aim to purchase your insurance about three weeks before the coverage start date. Insurers often view early buyers as more organised and careful, which can work in your favour.
- Enhance security: Reduce the risk of theft by fitting insurer-approved locks on doors and windows. Installing an approved alarm system can also make a big difference.
Taking these steps not only reduces risk but also increases the number of insurers willing to offer you a quote. With more competition for your business, you’re more likely to get better deals. Over time, these savings can add up, making your insurance more affordable.
How to buy short-term home insurance
The options for buying short-term home insurance are quite limited and not easily available – especially since the major comparison sites don’t offer this feature.
However, there are two ways you can still get it:
Since this type of cover isn’t widely available, finding an affordable policy that offers the right level of protection can be challenging. This is where a broker can be invaluable – they’ll know which insurers are likely to provide the cover you need. To find a broker, visit the British Insurance Brokers' Association website for assistance.
It might seem odd to suggest an annual policy when you’re looking for short-term home insurance, but if a broker can’t find a suitable policy or the cost is too high, it’s worth thinking outside the box.
The idea is to purchase an annual policy and cancel it when you no longer need the coverage – though this approach does come with some risks.
Here's how to go about it:
- Get a quote: Start with using our comparison tool in the main home insurance guide. Be completely honest (as you should always be) when answering the questions. If the premium seems reasonable for the coverage you need and you plan to cancel the policy before renewal, take the next steps to investigate further.
- Check the cancellation fee for ending the policy early. Many insurers will provide a pro-rata refund for the unused portion of the year if you paid upfront, as long as you haven’t made a claim. Cancellation fees typically hover around £35 but can vary, so confirm this with your insurer. Even if you pay monthly, insurers may still require the cancellation fee to be paid.
- Check refund terms: Ask the insurer how much of the premium will be refunded after each month of coverage. This is usually shown as a percentage.
Keep in mind that the longer you stay on the policy, the smaller the refund will be. If you’ve only a few months left, canceling might cost more than simply letting the policy expire. Some insurers may offer no refund at all after a certain point but still charge the cancellation fee.
By considering these factors, you can decide if this workaround is a viable option for your situation.
Warning. This is the risk (read carefully)
If you cancel a policy mid-year and you've needed to claim (or even notified them of a possible claim) - the insurers will not return any of the premium you have paid. And if you're paying by monthly instalments, the insurers will very likely expect (and most probably) request the remaining monthly instalments to be paid.
Once you've found the cheapest quotes, take two more important steps...
- Double-check the quotes. Click through to the provider's website to read the quote thoroughly, as some comparison sites make a few assumptions to speed up searches.
- Examine the policy's coverage. Check whether it's suitable. While you're there, it's worth playing with the policy details to see if you can finesse the price down. Look at the excess, and see if any tweaks can cut the cost.
- Check the firm you're buying from is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This shouldn't usually be a problem if you're buying via the methods above. The advantage of this is that if you have a claim unfairly rejected, that means you've a right to escalate any complaints to the free Financial Ombudsman if the insurer doesn't deal with them - more info on that in the section below.
How to complain about your insurance provider
The insurance industry doesn't have the best customer-service reputation and while a provider may be good for some, it can be hell for others.
Common problems include claims not being paid out on time or at all, unfair charges, or exclusions being hidden in small print. It's always worth trying to call your provider first, but if not, then you can use free complaints tool Resolver.
The tool helps you manage your complaint, and if the company doesn't play ball, it also helps you escalate your complaint to the free Financial Ombudsman Service.
Spotted out of date info/broken links? Email: brokenlink@moneysavingexpert.com
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