Hi l plan to sell my house and live in a rental house nearby for a year while l renovate and have my home up for sale. l will visit my home each day to make sure it's looked after.
Most insurance companies say if the home is unoccupied for more than 60 days its classified as " unoccupied " and your policy may be void. How do l avoid this, l think l read if you sleep in the house 2 nights every 60 days you can avoid unoccupied status, but then how could l prove l slept there 2 nights?
Read the PDS. My insurance in those circumstances said the lawns needed to be mowed and someone inspect the place inside and out weekly to maintain coverage.
If your insurer needs something unworkable contact them or shop around.
Weekly?
That was the requirement, I had to check recently.
NRMA Home and Contents PDS, page 66.
..Things we won’t insure…
you leaving your home unoccupied for 60 consecutive days or more and not maintaining it in a lived-in state by:
– keeping the lawns mowed and garden tidy
– stopping regular mail and newspaper deliveries, and
– organising someone to check inside and outside your home at least once a week
https://www.nrma.com.au/sites/nrma/files/nrma/policy_booklet…
Wow, that could be difficult for a distant holiday house.
contact your insurance company
How do l avoid this, l think l read if you sleep in the house 2 nights every 60 days you can avoid uncoppied status, but then how could l prove l slept there 2 nights ?
Call them and tell them to note on the file.
Phone your insurer and advise them you are renovating but living nearby.
Nominate a House Sitter (possibly you) and have them note this on the policy.
In the event of a claim, you can demonstrate "occupancy" by accounts that show the usage of utilities, electricity or gas.
It is a good idea to let your neighbours know, provide contact numbers and have exterior security lights to deter people. Put a light or a TV on a timer plug.
Mow the lawns, cancel the newspapers and put a no junk mail sign on the letter box.
how could l prove l slept there 2 nights ?
Order Uber or DoorDash to the address.
Tell the neighbours every time there is a delivery to avoid feeding vermin
Your electricity meter records your every use (or absence), and there is internet access to those records with any of the suppliers I’ve been with in recent years. Find a policy that is happy with regular visits, and find a way of recording them.
Just contact your insurance, tell them what is happening, ask them what is required, and do that.
If you go looking for loop-hole you will end up putting yourself in a situation where you are not properly covered.
How do you prove? You just say you were there
there are some policies (I think AAMI is one) where there is an additional excess if the house is unoccupied, but the policy still covers the property.
However most insurance policies also require you to notify if the house is undergoing renovations. So you probably need to let them know anyway
Also, when selling… assuming you use an Agent (or even with tradies).
Make sure of how many keys you provide (and receive back).
Utility Usage invoiced in your name
Each insurer is different. Some require you to stay overnight. Some just need you to look at it from the street. And some will count that you’re (or someone is) there daily to renovate as being occupied.
Best to contact the insurer you’re keen to use and ask them directly.
Finally a time for jv to say read your contract
Most insurance companies say if the home is unoccupied for more than 60 days its classified as " unoccupied " and your policy may be void. How do l avoid this, l think l read if you sleep in the house 2 nights every 60 days you can avoid unoccupied status, but then how could l prove l slept there 2 nights?
Why don't you just ask the insurer… jesus this is a high value asset.
first things to do is document your insurnace fruad on an online forum