Anyone else live alone and have some tips

[DenJayscay]

Hello,

Can anyone recommend a good contents insurance provider for a flat that is empty half the year? Someone will go in once a week but generally it is empty.

Also any tips on saving on bills (phone, Internet etc) when you're only able to use them half the year?


Thanks

[Steve]

Nautilus have/had a deal with Endsleigh that allows for a longer period unoccupied than most standard policies. Otherwise check out this aspect of any policy, depending on how long your trips are. Having a weekly visitor may be enough to negate this issue.

Get a gas/electricity tariff with no standing charge.

[DenJayscay]

Thanks, I'll have a look at them

[size4riggerboots]

Phonewise, I wouldn't bother with a landline and wifi if it's only you, for my mobile I use giffgaff because there's no monthly charge, when I'm on land I just buy internet and calls as required.

[endure]

Another sim worth considering is the Three 321 sim. Payg 3p a minute, 2p an SMS, 1p a MB

[bridgemonkey]

If you look at the 3 feel at home deal you can use it in a load of countries worldwide. Off the top of my head the US, Norway, Spain and Hong Kong are some of those in it for free. Makes it nice being able to travel and not pay any extra

[Lewis]

Australia too. Currently my ship is on a regular run loading there been really handy to get good Internet once or twice a month

[Midge]

Just a thought have you looked at second home owners forums? I would expect many have similar problems leaving properties unoccupied and may have some tips. But busy to have a search for you but might throw up some useful ideas.

[NT Dee]

I struggled to get contents insurance and my bank referred me to a company called Towergate. I've been with them 12 years now and always found them easy to deal with, competitive and when it comes to renewing you can usually beat them down a few pounds by asking for a better price. They are a specialist broker and will cover almost any insurance purpose.

[DenJayscay]

Thanks for all the suggestions, very helpful

[chris]

I just called towergate and basically they could offer me insurance if the flat was empty for upto 6 months a year (which is just about the case for me) and if so checks in on the property every 7 days (which isnt the case for me) so I didnt manage to get a quote to compare to Endsleigh with the Nautilus agreement.

With Endsleigh my flat can be left for 120 days without anyone checking in on it, not that cheap though and theres the Nautilus membership fee.

I wonder how long it would take for Endsleigh to realise if I quit my nautilus membership...

[ETwhat?]

Another sim worth considering is the Three 321 sim. Payg 3p a minute, 2p an SMS, 1p a MB

For internet access you really need to look carefully what your going to use. I would use somewhere between 2-3Gb of internet if I'm not on wifi for a month, paying 1p a MB becomes 20-30 quid for reasonably light use. but then it depends on what you really use it for. It is easy to live with a good 4G phone and no land line although it is probably cheaper to have basic landline and internet and then a cheap pay as you go mobile

[chris]

As an update to earlier, I found some 120 consecutive day unoccupied property insurance deals on compare the meerkat

[Midge]

As an update to earlier, I found some 120 consecutive day unoccupied property insurance deals on compare the meerkat

If you go with one of those and you can get 2 for 1 cinema tickets for a year.... or a meerkat! Or buy one day travel insurance for a ?2 ...... apologies watching too much Martin Lewis saving things!
I must have a look and see if we've ever paid PPI.......