Unoccupied Home Insurance?

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Disrespective

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#185331 18-Nov-2015 16:25

Has anyone got unoccupied home insurance lately?

We bought a home but don't plan on moving in straight away, so we can get some renovation work done to it. Our current insurer is not interested in insuring the property if we aren't living in it and recommended talking to Vero. However Vero don't deal with the public directly and require me talking to a broker... None of whom I have any previous dealings with.

Given that we are only intending on not living in the property for a grand total of three months (at most, and one of them will be on holiday over the summer) I feel like it's a bit of a pain in the arse but not something I am happy dismissing.

Has anyone either, dealt with an insurer for unoccupied insurance, or a broker they would recommend I might be able to talk to?

Thanks in advance.

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2096 posts

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#1430506 18-Nov-2015 16:37

Have you tried State and AA? both mention special cases for unoccupied homes (around excesses) so may be able to do something for you.

Disrespective

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#1430511 18-Nov-2015 16:43

AA is my current insurer...

dclegg

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#1430515 18-Nov-2015 16:49

We recently had to engage a broker to arrange some Contract Works insurance, as our insurer (AA) didn't deal with this. We used Greg Malcolm from Aon, and found him easy enough to deal with.

Greg Malcolm
Aon New Zealand Corporate, West Auckland
6/214 Universal Dr Henderson
t: +6498380413
f: +6498380157
m: +64276594913
e: greg.malcolm@aon.com

mattwnz

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#1430524 18-Nov-2015 16:59

That sounds very odd, I mean what happens if you go away on an overseas trip and it is unoccupied. Sounds like you need to get a new insurer, or get it escalated to a manager. The people on the phone are often just following a flow chart, so may have gone off on the wrong branch, so I wouldn't be surprised if they made an error. I guess it depends if they want your business after you move in or not.

Fred99

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#1430526 18-Nov-2015 17:06

If you're getting some "renovation" work done, then if any of that work is structural (not as defined by the building act, but as defined by the insurance company - usually in simple terms such as "altering a structural member"), then you'll need building/construction insurance. This may not be offered by your normal home insurer either, but they may be able to refer you to deal directly with an associated company (like NZI -if you're dealing with another IAG company) without going through a broker. Note that this is not the same as public liability cover that contractors working on the site should also have.

Fred99

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#1430528 18-Nov-2015 17:08

mattwnz: That sounds very odd, I mean what happens if you go away on an overseas trip and it is unoccupied. Sounds like you need to get a new insurer, or get it escalated to a manager. The people on the phone are often just following a flow chart, so may have gone off on the wrong branch, so I wouldn't be surprised if they made an error. I guess it depends if they want your business after you move in or not.

It's not odd - there will be a clause in standard home insurance policies about leaving a house vacant for more than X days. You must speak to your insurer, as it voids your policy if you don't.

KiwiSurfer

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#1430568 18-Nov-2015 18:32

Some banks provide insurance underwritten by various companies so maybe speak with your bank and see what they can offer. Not sure which banks does Vero instance though. Also PSA members can access Vero insurance so may be also worth checking with your union or other similar associations if you are a member.

However I suspect you will be better off talking with an experienced broker in any case.

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Geese

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#1430574 18-Nov-2015 18:46

mattwnz: ... or get it escalated to a manager. The people on the phone are often just following a flow chart, so may have gone off on the wrong branch, so I wouldn't be surprised if they made an error.

That was my recent experience regarding insuring personalised plates. Was initially told they are uninsurable, then when I escalated was told they come under specified accessories. I'd try again.

Disrespective

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#1430602 18-Nov-2015 19:44

I think the issue lies in that the house will not be lived in at all. Thus, it will look vacant for a period of time. If we moved into the house we could leave it alone for up to 60 days (I think) before the insurance becomes invalid.

We won't be doing any structural work to the home, just painting, minor insulation, some bathroom renovations, and heatpump installation. Things we would rather not do while living in the house.

Disrespective

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#1430604 18-Nov-2015 19:45

dclegg: We recently had to engage a broker to arrange some Contract Works insurance, as our insurer (AA) didn't deal with this. We used Greg Malcolm from Aon, and found him easy enough to deal with.

Greg Malcolm
Aon New Zealand Corporate, West Auckland
6/214 Universal Dr Henderson
t: +6498380413
f: +6498380157
m: +64276594913
e: greg.malcolm@aon.com

Thanks. Will give him a call tomorrow.

Linuxluver

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#1430606 18-Nov-2015 19:48

Disrespective: Has anyone got unoccupied home insurance lately?

We bought a home but don't plan on moving in straight away, so we can get some renovation work done to it. Our current insurer is not interested in insuring the property if we aren't living in it and recommended talking to Vero. However Vero don't deal with the public directly and require me talking to a broker... None of whom I have any previous dealings with.

Given that we are only intending on not living in the property for a grand total of three months (at most, and one of them will be on holiday over the summer) I feel like it's a bit of a pain in the arse but not something I am happy dismissing.

Has anyone either, dealt with an insurer for unoccupied insurance, or a broker they would recommend I might be able to talk to?

Thanks in advance.

I have my insurance with FMG (Farmers Mutual Group). I had no issues getting insurance on a house that wasn't occupied. I told them we had bought it, but didn't intend to shift for about 6 months.

"No worries".

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richms

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#1430613 18-Nov-2015 19:55

Move in for a week before starting the work? Then you get the normal I am staying at my holiday home during the break period to be elsewhere.

Richard rich.ms

antoniosk

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#1430627 18-Nov-2015 20:24

We did something similar when we first got our house years ago, it needed work before we could move in.

We went to crombie Lockwood and they sorted us out.

The rules are that brand new builds from ground up are the builders insurance, but for renovation to existing house is the owners responsibility. Such is building in NZ. We're with AA and they referred us to vero for a recent job we've done. It's not cheap but you need it.

________

Antoniosk

Wheelbarrow01

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Chorus

#1430765 18-Nov-2015 23:08

That was my recent experience regarding insuring personalised plates. Was initially told they are uninsurable, then when I escalated was told they come under specified accessories. I'd try again.

Insuring personalised plates? Why? If one gets lost/stolen the plate manufacturer will make and send you a replacement for between $20 and $75 (depending on plate style).

pdath

252 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1430851 19-Nov-2015 08:05

Are you using a builder to do the work? Often the builder can get insurance for the project while they are working on it.

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