Empty Property Checklist: How to Prevent Damage When a House Is Unoccupied

What Can Go Wrong When a Property Is Left Unoccupied?

What can happen in a month? If you’re an unoccupied property with no one checking in, quite a lot. There’s the potential for catastrophe that no one can detect from the outside until it’s too late, as our fictitious diary reveals.

From blue bottles and wheelie bins, to burglars and circuit breakers, here’s why an empty property checklist is essential.

Sunday 1st

Dear diary. That’s it. I’m an unoccupied property now. My cupboards are bare. My shelves empty. The stack of boxes moved out and everything locked up. For the first time in 18 months, all is quiet. No footsteps or laughter. The house settles into its new, dark silence.

Tuesday 3rd

Where does dust come from? It’s only been 48 hours but already, I’m covered in a fine layer. The widows are shut tight, so I’m getting warm too. I thought they were coming back but it was just the postman. Two brown envelopes land on the doormat. They look important.

Friday 6th

Bin day. Usually there’s a last minute panic, with someone in their pyjamas dragging rubbish up the drive. Today? The wheelie bins stayed put, despite being overfull and the lids not shutting properly. I think I saw the neighbour’s curtain twitch.

Sunday 8th

There’s a weird odour in the bathroom. I’ve heard that mould remover TV advert. The narrator said mould spores were always naturally present in the air and that signs of mould can start in a closed, unventilated bathroom in as little as 24 hours. Is that a puddle by the shower tray?

Friday 13th

Unlucky for some? Unlucky for me. Despite this heatwave, the central heating kicked in. Did someone perform a reset on their way out? Each room is a sauna. The energy price cap has just gone up. I dread to think of the bill. Once again, the bins don’t move. More post arrives.

Monday 15th

The boiler continues to fire in line with a winter schedule. Now a brown watermark has appeared on the hallway ceiling. The curtains were left open so everyone can see me bare. Sun streams in, creating extra heat and highlighting suspended dust particles that are destined to float down and add to the layer. A bluebottle buzzes at the living room window. The only sign of life.

Tuesday 16th

He’s got friends. There are now four bluebottles flying around. And there’s another sound. I recognise the rhythmic beep. It’s a fire alarm whose battery is on its last legs. A wad of junk mail has been clumsily stuffed in the letterbox, half in, half out and clearly visible to passers-by.

Thursday 18th

It’s a scene from a horror movie. The ground floor is swarming with bluebottles. I watch as they exit the fireplace and bash on the window panes. This happened before. A deceased bird in the chimney stack. A speedy decomposition in the summer heat. At least the beep of the smoke alarm has stopped.

Saturday 20th

The dry spell was broken by rain and the garden has sprung to life. The grass and weeds are unbelievably tall. The doorbell rang. A figure was just about visible through the overgrown front garden, next to the unmoved bins. A brown box left on the doorstep – a dog food subscription, uncancelled and now unclaimed.

Tuesday 23rd

The window sills are strewn with prone, motionless flies. The air thick with pungency. Maybe from the chimney, maybe from the kitchen. We’ve had a power surge and the circuit breaker kicked in. The fridge freezer is dark and silent. Inside, a wedge of Stilton and a pot of prawns sweat. The freezer has defrosted, a puddle of water is unseen under the appliance.

Friday 26th

Finally. There’s a breeze coming in! I think I heard glass breaking but the back door definitely opened. A new face. Is he the new occupant? Well, he has got an overnight bag and is sprawled out on the sofa. But he didn’t take his shoes off. Or pick up the post. Or sorted the bins out. He did try redecorating but his can of spray paint isn’t as good as Dulux and a roller.

Wednesday 31st

My other new occupants have a very strange car. It’s really loud and has flashing blue lights. There are three people in the living room, disgusted by the dead flies and piles of empty cider cans. I recognise the lady muttering something about not having empty property insurance ….more than 30 days unoccupied…call a locksmith.

How to prevent unoccupied damage and drama

Wondering how often should an empty property be checked? The more frequently, the better. Small niggles can quickly turn into serious problems when no one visits.

Even popping in once a week to air the property is valuable when preventing damp in an empty house. While you’re there, you can clear the post and keep up with the refuse schedule, reducing the red flags that signal the property is vacant.

Create an empty property checklist

Every vacant property visit is a chance to reduce the risk of damage or illegal usage. To ensure focus, a checklist will keep you on track. Consider

· Opening windows wide for the duration of the visit for ventilation, making sure to secure after

· Testing smoke alarms

· Checking fridges, freezers and kitchen cupboards for rotting food

· Clearing away post

· Ensuring the central heating is on a frost prevention setting

· Ensuring all external doors are locked and secure upon exiting

· Ensuring recycling and refuse is collected

· Checking boundaries and perimeter fences for damage/gaps

· Keeping up with routine maintenance

· Mowing lawns and cutting back overgrown plants

· Checking for signs of water leaks and damage

· Looking for evidence of forced entry or vandalism

· Checking for telltale signs of pests (droppings, dead flies etc)

· Noting unusual or bad odours

Insurance: keep it valid

It’s also worth checking how vacancy affects insurance policies. Standard products will be invalid or heavily restricted if the property is unoccupied for more than 30 days. If you’ve taken out specific unoccupied home insurance, your contract will dictate how often someone is required to visit. It can be as frequent as every seven days to keep the policy valid.

Vacant property inspection is one of our most used services at Viewber. Our nationwide network can visit any unoccupied property as frequently as required, using an empty property checklist to report on the premises.

Advantages of using Viewber include:

· No minimum booking requirement or contract – ideal for short spells of vacancy

· Key holding facility – perfect for probate and long-term vacant properties

· Seven day a week operation – choose a date and time that ties in with refuse collections

· Scheduling facility – book repeat visits that validate insurance policies

· Nationwide network – ensure regular visits even if you live miles away from the property

· Photo and video documentation – clear condition evidence that informs the next step

· Tailor an empty property checklist – be specific about checks according to the exact circumstances

· Access reports from anywhere – log in via a simple online dashboard

Contact Viewber if you need help with vacant property management and empty home checks.