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// VACANT HOME INSURANCE
Vacant Home Insurance in Baton Rouge
Most standard homeowners policies stop covering a home after it's been empty for 30-60 days. If you're renovating, between tenants, trying to sell, or inherited a property, you need a policy designed for vacant homes. We work with carriers that actually write this type of coverage in Louisiana.
Why Vacant Homes Lose Coverage
Most homeowners policies have a vacancy clause buried in the fine print. After 30-60 days with nobody living in the home, your carrier can deny claims for vandalism, theft, water damage, and more. Some will cancel the policy altogether. It doesn't matter if you're still paying premiums.
Empty homes in Louisiana face extra risks on top of that. Burst pipes go unnoticed for weeks. Storms cause damage nobody sees until the next visit. Vandals and squatters target properties that are clearly empty. And Baton Rouge's heat and humidity accelerate mold and water damage in unoccupied homes faster than in most parts of the country.
Whether you inherited a property in Denham Springs, you're renovating a house in Prairieville, or your old place has been sitting on the market for months, a vacant home policy keeps you protected while the property is empty. It's built specifically for this situation.
// WHAT'S COVERED
What Your Vacant Home Policy Covers
Vandalism & Break-In
Empty homes are easy targets for vandals and squatters. This covers damage from break-ins, graffiti, and intentional destruction. Most standard homeowners policies stop covering vandalism once a home has been vacant for 30-60 days.
Weather & Storm Damage
Wind, hail, lightning, and fallen trees can cause serious damage to a home that nobody is around to notice. In Louisiana, storm season hits hard every year, and an empty house can take a beating before anyone catches the problem.
General Liability
Liability isn't included in a standard vacant dwelling policy, but it's one of the most important coverages to add. You're still responsible as the property owner if someone is injured on the premises. We strongly recommend adding general liability to your vacant home policy.
Fire Protection
Fire is one of the biggest risks for vacant homes because there's no one inside to catch a small problem before it turns into a total loss. Vacant home policies cover fire damage, including electrical fires and arson.
Water Damage
A burst pipe in an empty house can run for days or weeks before anyone notices. That kind of water damage can destroy floors, walls, and ceilings. Vacant home coverage helps protect against these slow-building problems.
Theft
Copper wiring, HVAC units, appliances. Thieves know what's worth taking from an empty house, and they know nobody is home to stop them. A vacant home policy covers theft that your standard homeowners policy would deny after the vacancy clause kicks in.
Why Baton Rouge Homeowners Choose Chabert for Vacant Properties
Not many carriers write vacant home policies in Louisiana. Some won't touch them at all. Others tack on so many exclusions that the coverage isn't worth much. That's where having an independent agent who knows which carriers actually write these policies makes a real difference.
We're an independent agency on Sherwood Forest Blvd in Baton Rouge. We don't work for one insurance company. We work for you. When you call us about a vacant property, we already know which carriers will write it, what they'll exclude, and how to get you the best rate for your situation. We handle vacant homes for estate settlements, renovations, properties between tenants, and seasonal homes across EBR, Ascension, and Livingston parishes.
We also understand Louisiana specific risks that carriers in other states don't think about. Hurricane season on an empty home is a different animal. Flood zone exposure doesn't go away because nobody is living there. Mold grows fast in South Louisiana humidity, especially in a house with no air conditioning running. We factor all of that in when we build your quote.
And when something goes wrong, your carrier's claims line is the fastest first step. But if you have questions about what's covered, need help understanding what the adjuster is telling you, or just want to talk it through with someone local, call us at (225) 395-4000. We're here to help.
Get Your Vacant Home Quote
Or call (225) 395-4000 to talk to a local agent.
// RATE FACTORS
What Affects Your Vacant Home Insurance Rate
Several things factor into how much you'll pay for a vacant home policy in Baton Rouge:
Expected vacancy duration
A home that will be empty for 3 months costs less to insure than one that will sit vacant for a year or more. Shorter vacancy periods mean lower risk for the carrier.
Property condition
A well-maintained home with a solid roof, updated plumbing, and no existing damage will get a better rate than a property that's already showing wear. Carriers want to know the home is in decent shape before they agree to cover it.
Security measures
Deadbolt locks, security cameras, alarm systems, and motion sensor lights can all lower your premium. Anything that makes the property less attractive to vandals or thieves helps.
Regular inspections
Some carriers require periodic inspections as a condition of coverage. Even if yours doesn't, regular check-ins help catch problems early and can work in your favor at renewal.
Location and neighborhood
Your zip code matters. Areas with higher crime rates, more flood exposure, or a history of storm damage cost more to insure. Some Baton Rouge neighborhoods are significantly more expensive than others.
Construction type
Frame construction, brick, slab vs. pier and beam. The way your home is built affects the cost to rebuild and the types of risks it faces. Older homes in particular can be more expensive to insure when they're sitting empty.
Prior claims
A clean claims history gets you better rates, just like with homeowners insurance. If the property has had recent claims, carriers will factor that into the premium.
Vacant Home Insurance FAQ
Usually not. Most homeowners policies have a vacancy clause that kicks in after 30-60 days with nobody living in the home. After that, the carrier can deny claims for vandalism, theft, water damage, and sometimes even fire. Some policies get cancelled altogether. If you know the home will be empty for more than a few weeks, it's worth checking your policy language. We wrote about several of these coverage surprises in our article on homeowners insurance myths in Louisiana.
More than standard homeowners insurance. Vacant properties are riskier because there's no one inside to spot problems early, so carriers charge accordingly. Your rate depends on the property's condition, location, how long it will be vacant, and what security measures are in place. That said, the cost is still far less than paying for major damage out of pocket. For context on homeowners pricing in general, check out our breakdown of home insurance costs in Louisiana.
In insurance terms, these are different things. A vacant home has been emptied out, with no furniture and no one planning to move back in anytime soon. An unoccupied home still has furniture and belongings inside, but nobody is living there temporarily. Think of a snowbird who leaves for the winter. Vacant homes are considered higher risk, and the coverage requirements are different. Our guide on choosing the right homeowners insurance in Louisiana explains more about how carriers look at occupancy status.
If the property is in a flood zone, yes. And even if it's not in a designated flood zone, it's worth considering. Vacant home insurance doesn't cover flooding, just like standard homeowners doesn't. You'd need a separate flood policy. In Louisiana, flood risk doesn't go away just because nobody is living in the house. We can quote flood coverage alongside your vacant home policy so both are handled at the same time. Read more about whether you need flood insurance in Louisiana.
It depends on your carrier, but usually 30-60 days. Some carriers use 30 days, others use 60. After that window closes, your standard homeowners policy either won't cover certain claims or may be voided entirely. The vacancy clause is buried in the fine print, and most homeowners don't know it's there until they try to file a claim. Our article on dwelling coverage explains more about what your homeowners policy does and doesn't protect.
Call your carrier's claims line first. They'll assign an adjuster and get the process started. Document the damage with photos and video, and keep a record of when the property was last inspected. The carrier will want to know the timeline of vacancy, so notes about your last visit help. If you have questions about what's covered, need help understanding what the adjuster is telling you, or want someone in your corner, call us at (225) 395-4000. We can walk you through it.
Still have questions? Call (225) 395-4000 or get your free quote.
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Related Coverage
If the property isn't owner-occupied, dwelling fire insurance is another option worth looking at. Once you move back in, you'll want to switch to a standard homeowners insurance policy. If you decide to rent the property out instead, landlord insurance is designed for that situation. And regardless of vacancy status, Louisiana properties should always consider flood insurance separately.
Don't Let an Empty Home Become an Uninsured One
Or call us directly: (225) 395-4000