OT(ish) insuring an empty property

David · 2016-09-12T13:00:38+00:00

We may have to insure an empty property for a month or so; so far so good, we just look up specialist insurers. Any recommendations welcome, of course. However first Google gave me one of the usual suspects: which included the fascinating paragraph "The insurer will also typically insist that you remove all valuables, drain the water system, set the heating to the frost setting during the winter months to avoid burst pipes, switch off the utilities and regularly inspect the property." Having analysed the logic of the above, I would like to know (1) how you leave the heating on the frost setting if you have drained the water system and turned off all utilities (2) If you have drained the water system, why do you need to protect against burst pipes? Next bit says "It's also a good idea to make the place look lived in, perhaps by installing timer switches for the lights and asking a neighbour to park their car in the drive." Well, yes, but if I've turned off all the utilities what is going to work the lights? A distinct lack of joined up thinking which does not inspire confidence in the rest of the site. Cheers Dave R