Norwich and Peterborough Building Society

Protection for when you're not around.

There are several reasons why properties can become unoccupied, such as awaiting refurbishment, sale or probate. Many home insurance policies do not provide cover for properties that aree unoccupied .

If you are in the process, or looking to renovate a property or even embarking on a self build project N&P can find specialist policies that will provide all the cover you need. This includes liability for anyone on site, equipment cover and any on site accommodation, such as a caravan. We can arrange policies for anything from 3 months to 2 years, depending on the length of the project.

If a property becomes unoccupied after the death of the owner and the estate is in probate, N&P usually deal with solicitors in these circumstances, but we will of course be pleased to help relatives at this difficult time.

Ensuring peace of mind for our customers is at the heart of what we do. We understand that you do not want any nasty surprises should you ever need to claim and we also don't want to charge you for cover that you don't need. Rest assured our team of experts will work hard to find you exactly the right cover at the right price

Simply call  01223 273 118 today to talk to one of our team.

How do I get a Specialist Home Insurance quote? How long will it take to get a Specialist Home Insurance quote? What types of property do NPIB cover? Can I arrange insurance through you if I don't live in the UK? What other types of insurance can NPIB arrange? Who are Norwich and Peterborough Insurance Brokers Limited?

At N&P we want to find you the perfect insurance to suit your special home. There are some things we'll need to ask in order to tailor-make your specialist cover, which may be a little more detailed to standard insurance questions, so it would be useful to have some of the information below to hand when you speak to us.

Construction
We'll need to know what the walls and roof are made of and what year the property was built.

Heating and electrics
Please tell us if you have any wood burners and how the property is heated. We'll also need to know if the property has had an electrical inspection and if so, what year.

Second homes
If you are getting a quote for a second or holiday home, please tell us how long the property is left unoccupied.

Flood Risk Areas
What is the proximity and height of your property to any body of water. In most cases we are able to pin point your property on a map and explain its position to an insurer when negotiating your premium for you. Any information you have about the local history, previous flooding and if any defence work has been carried out is also very useful to us.

Tall Trees
One of the main causes of subsidence claims, to period or non-standard construction homes, are tree roots. It is important that we make insurers aware of any trees within close proximity (up to 25 metres) of your property

Security Details
Depending on your location and contents value, some insurers may require you to have 'minimum security' in place. Minimum security is nothing more than ensuring the doors and windows have suitable locks to deter burglars.

Thatched Homes
If your property is thatched then we'll need to know if all the chimneys are lined, insulated, and when the roof was last replaced. We'll also need to know the method of heating, including any woodburners amd multi fuel stoves.

We have several markets available to us to ensure that your property has the right levels of cover. But there are some measures you can take to reduce the risks yourself:

• Unoccupied buildings or empty property should be inspected on a regular basis. If you find any damage (such as a broken window pane) repair it as soon as possible.
• Ask someone to keep an eye on the property for you, give them your mobile number so as they can call you if needed.
• Clear the garden and surrounds of the house of any rubbish in particular combustible material should be removed and disposed of properly.
• Avoid the build up of junk mail, as this is a fire risk. If you are not expecting any mail, consider sealing up the letterbox.
• Drain the water system and turn off the supply at the stopcock.
• Switch off the electrics.
• Review your properties security and think about the installation of an intruder alarm, outside lighting and surveillance. Also think about the level of physical protection such as good quality deadlocks on all external doors and windows. Your local Police or a security professional would be able to advise you on the most appropriate methods.

Safety Checklist

Guards for open fires	Smoke detectors fitted
Heating regularly serviced	Chimneys swept
Pipes properly lagged	Know where main stopcock is
Burglar alarm	Call-in organised when away
Neighbourhood Watch member	Valuable items in safe deposit
Outbuildings properly locked	Tools locked away
Bicycles locked up	Ladders chained up

Here is a quick reference guide that you can use to check how well protected your home is. Much of the information given here is just plain common sense; but it helps to check in case something has been missed. To read the full General Advice Guide, click here.