Renters: Are you going on vacation? Here’s everything you need to know before you go.
If I’m leaving my (rented) home unoccupied while away, do I need to tell my landlord? What are my responsibilities? Is my apartment unoccupied or vacant? Do I need a house-sitter? These are all good questions that you should be asking yourself before you go. Today, we are here to answer those questions for you.
What is the difference between an unoccupied vs vacant space?
A vacant space will usually be empty, absent of people and/or furniture. No discernable sign that anyone has lived there in 30 days. Similarly to a vacant space, an unoccupied space will also not have people staying there. The difference is that an unoccupied unit will have discernable signs that someone has been staying there. There will be functioning utilities and appliances and there will be furniture in the home.
A helpful diagram can be found below ↓
What do I need to do if I’m leaving my rental for a weekend?
If you are leaving your rented space for just a weekend, you don’t need to have any special care to fulfill the needs of your insurance or your landlord (unless otherwise specified). Needless to say, making sure the doors and windows are locked, the lights and unnecessary appliances are off, and there is no water running is a good standard of care. Generally speaking, make sure all steps that should be taken before leaving for a weekend are 100% done before you head out.
What do I need to do if I’m leaving my rental for a week? 2 weeks? a month?
If you are leaving your rented house unoccupied, you are not required to tell your landlord that you will not be on the property. However, it is a good practice to let them know if you’re leaving for more than 72 hours. If you’re leaving the rented property for over three days, it’s recommended that you have somebody check on the unit to make sure everything is okay. A house sitter (someone sleeping in your home while you're away) is not required, someone coming to check on things for a couple of hours per week is plenty. A house sitter is still an option if you're planning on being gone more than three days.
What about Home Security?
Having a home security system can change things. Having a monitored vs unmonitored system is an important distinction. Monitored home security systems give you access to professional help to look out for your home 24/7. Unmonitored systems are less expensive, but are likely only being monitored by the home owner or lease holder. If you have a monitored home security system it can take the place of someone coming in to look after your unit.
Many insurance companies do provide a discount on tenant insurance if you have monitored home security. The system must come with an alarm certificate (which should be provided by the installers) and it must be a monitored home security system.
Find out about possible discounts ↓
