Securing and managing a vacant property

26 March 2020

Unoccupied property needs to be managed to prevent or limit issues that can lead to damage and additional cost. By taking a proactive approach, you can protect your premises so they remain a valuable asset for future development or sale.

Vacant property risks

When a property is unoccupied for a period of time it may suffer damage due to:

Fire caused by arson or a defective electrical installation
Vandalism including malicious damage and graffiti
Theft e.g. damage to the building when gaining access, theft of building materials and contents
General deterioration caused by adverse weather or water ingress, possibly as a consequence of lack of maintenance

Identifying risks at your premises can help you to reduce loss or damage occurring. Carrying out a risk assessment of the vacant property will help you identify any hazards and weak spots.

Securing vacant buildings

Ecclesiastical Insurance Office pic is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Ecclesiastical Insurance Office plc Reg. No. 24869. Registered in England at Benefact House, 2000 Pioneer Avenue, Gloucester Business Park, Brockworth, Gloucester, GL3 4AW, United Kingdom. Registered Branch in Dublin, Ireland. Reg No. 902180. 2nd Floor, Block F2, EastPoint, Dublin 3, DO3 T6P8. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation
Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom (Firm Reference Number 113848).

When a property appears to be empty, it can look like a soft target for criminals. As a property owner you need to protect your premises from intruders and malicious damage. You should take measures to:

Deter any potential intruders

Introduce additional security measures, visual deterrents and maintenance of the property

Detect any intrusion at the earliest opportunity so any damage is minimised

Conduct routine inspections and provide alarm protection

Manage lawful entry to the premises

Review existing safety arrangements for the property and implement any additional controls to ensure the safety of visitors. Our unoccupied property guidance goes into detail about how to secure your buildings.

Vacant property insurance

You should always let your insurer or broker know if your property is likely to be vacant for an extended period, typically 30 days or more. They will usually apply slightly different terms to your insurance and provide advice on how best to protect the property.

Vacant property inspections

It may be a requirement of your insurance cover that unoccupied buildings are inspected by you, or your appointed representative, on at least a weekly basis. It is recommended that all visits are formally recorded.

This is to ensure that if damage has occurred it can be rectified at the earliest opportunity, preventing any further damage.

Water leaks, for example, may start off fairly small but if left undetected for long periods of time damage can build up and become severe.

Where damage is crime related, it should be reported to your insurers and the Gardaí. A vacant property inspection checklist template can be found in our unoccupied property guidance.

Documents

Management of unoccupied property PDF

15 March 2021