Probate House Insurance

Probate is the process of dealing with the estate of somebody after their death, which typically involves clearing any debts and distributing whatever assets they have in accordance with their will. Often this will involve a property.

You’re likely to need special cover if the property is still in the deceased’s name, or if it’s unoccupied for an extended period. Ordinary home insurance policies probably won’t cover you for more than 30 days of unoccupancy.

Yes. You’ll have to prove you have an ‘insurable interest’ in the property in order for us to be able to provide cover. Once you’ve been confirmed (usually as an executor or trustee) the policy can be issued in your name with any other beneficiaries named as additional policyholders.

Empty properties face more risks than occupied properties. Even well maintained properties can degrade quickly with no one on the spot to see problems – like leaks – and put a stop to them before they cause too much damage. Vacant properties can also be at more risk of antisocial behaviour or burglary. Your insurer may ask that you inspect the property (or have an agent inspect it) every seven days, or that you install an alarm or upgrade locks.

Your premium will also vary depending on how long the property has been or will be empty. Usually after 5 years restrictions will start to apply – often reducing your cover to fire, lightening, earthquake and explosion only.

Each probate case is different, but it can end up being an unexpectedly lengthy period of wrangling with solicitors and official documentation. We’d always recommend you start with at least a six month policy. However, with a range of shorter policies available, it means we can help you make sure you’re only getting the cover you need, at every stage of the probate process.

Yes, you can get a quote online, but we’re on the other end of the phone if you have specific questions, call 0345 266 8577 for any support.

We know that if it’s the first time you’ve dealt with probate, especially if you’re also dealing with your own grief, sometimes things can feel overwhelming. Our team are experts and are on hand to guide you through the process and make sure you’ve got the right cover in place for the property you’re responsible for.

We’re a safe pair of hands for an upsetting time of your life and it’s our job to make things as easy as possible, giving you a bit of peace of mind while you concentrate on what’s really important.

We have provided a summary of the key features of the policy, above. For details of the terms and conditions applicable, please refer to the insurance product information document and policy wording, which are available during the quotation process.

You can pay by credit card or monthly Direct Debit.

If you prefer to spread the cost of your annual premium, we offer a quick and easy Direct Debit scheme. When you choose to pay premiums in instalments, you will be paying under a premium finance plan. We will give you full details of the finance provider, and the additional cost of finance, when we provide you with your payment plan quotation. This will include the total payable, the number of monthly instalments and the cost of each, as well as the representative APR.