An empty commercial building, to many people, represents no risk whatsoever. Their perception is that the building, because it is unoccupied, is significantly less likely to suffer a claim.
Now, if you have a standard commercial building insurance policy, and you then tell the insurer that the building is to be empty or vacant, two things will happen.
First of all, they may turn around and say no thanks, they do not wish to insure you any more.
Second, and sometimes worse, they will say they are happy to continue insuring you, but they will restrict cover and triple or quadruple your premium.
So, if either of these scenarios hit you, you should look around for an alternative unoccupied building insurance quote. But, as the title suggests this is not easy.
The perception of empty equals low risk is not shared by insurers. Empty to them equals higher risk, of arson, storm, break in, flood and malicous damage. So, many of them decide, for their own reasons, to charge a massive premium increase and exclude all of the covers for which you are likely to suffer a claim.
Help, as always, is at hand in the form of a business insurance broker, do not go to a direct insurer and do not go to an “automated” compare business insurance site. You need to speak to, and explain your circumstances, to a human being. Once the broker has listened and taken down all of the details regarding your insurance requirements, they will go away and search the market for you and come back with a suitable product.
Cheap premiums and wide cover are available, you just need to get a professional to find that needle for you.