Vacancy Permit

What Does Vacancy Permit Mean?

A vacancy permit is an amendment that can be added to a home insurance policy when the insured property becomes vacant.

Typically, vacating a property for an extended period of time will void home insurance coverage. However, with a vacancy permit, the property remains insured even while it is unoccupied.

Insuranceopedia Explains Vacancy Permit

Most insurance companies classify a house as vacant if it has been unoccupied for at least 30 consecutive days. Once deemed vacant, most home insurance policies will no longer cover damage to the property. If you know in advance that you’ll be away for that long, it’s worth reviewing the steps for how to protect your home while you’re away so a claim isn’t denied later for reasons unrelated to occupancy.

Homeowners planning to vacate their homes but wanting to maintain insurance coverage must obtain a vacancy permit from their insurance company. These permits typically last for 90 days.

A vacancy permit adjusts the coverage, often limiting it to basic perils such as fire damage. If the home is a second residence that sits empty for much of the year, a permit usually isn’t a long-term fix, and a dedicated vacation home insurance policy is generally the better option.