How long can a house be left unoccupied?

Generally, there are no set-rules in place that state how long you can leave your unoccupied property vacant for. However, it is important to note that most standard home insurance providers will only cover an empty property for 30 to 60 days.

Is it bad for a house to sit empty?

A vacant home is a lost opportunity. Even if a home is in disrepair, there are still revenue opportunities that can and should be taken advantage of. Unfortunately, every minute a home sits vacant, the more at risk it is of becoming irreparably damaged and a financial liability.

Is it OK to leave a house empty?

How Long Can You Leave A House Empty? With frequent upkeep, you could keep your house empty safely for a year. However, you would need a caretaker or a neighbor that checks in every few months to keep your house in good condition.

How do you protect an empty house?

10 Tips for Protecting a Vacant Home After You Move

1. Lock and secure all windows and doors.
2. Give a neighbor or friend an extra key.
3. Take care of your yard.
4. Install motion detector lights.
5. Remove valuables from the home.
6. Keep home security system sign out front.
7. Keep your alarm system up and running.

How do I prepare my house for a long absence?

Perhaps the most important aspect of this preparation is making sure your home appears occupied.

1. Lock All External Doors, Windows, and the Garage.
2. Don’t Hide House Keys.
3. Ask Neighbors and the Police To Watch.
4. Set Programmable Light Timers.
5. Activate Motion Activated Outdoor Floodlights.

What happens when a house sits unoccupied?

Vandalism and Theft – Vacant properties attract trespassers, criminals and other thieves without proper security measure in place. Without proper supervision, the houses can become easy targets, and damages range from broken appliances to vandalism to stolen copper, and even to structural damage.

How do you secure an abandoned house?

Padlock all doors. However, in an abandoned building, there are no occupants to alert and passersby might be rarer. Therefore, add an extra layer of security and padlock every door. There is no such thing as a thief-proof lock, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t important differences between locks.