Owning a London home while you live abroad

A London home that stands empty for months at a time does not look after itself. Small problems, a dripping overflow or a boiler that has quietly failed, become large ones when nobody is there to notice. Most of the work is simple, but it has to happen on time.

Visits and insurance

Many home insurance policies set conditions for unoccupied homes, such as regular inspections or the water being turned off after a period. Read your policy for the exact wording. Where inspections are required, keep a dated record of each one, with photographs.

Winter

Frozen and burst pipes are the most common expensive problem in an empty home. Keep the heating on a low frost setting, or drain the system if the home will be empty through the coldest months. Have gutters and drains cleared in autumn.

Safety certificates

If the home is let, even occasionally, the landlord's safety duties apply: an annual gas safety check, an electrical report at least every five years in England, and working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Keep the certificates together and know when each expires.

Letting while you are away

If you let your London home while living overseas, the Non-Resident Landlord Scheme run by HMRC may apply to the rent. Speak to a UK tax adviser before the first tenancy begins.

A short checklist

• A named person in London with keys and authority to act
• Visits at an interval your insurer accepts, recorded with photographs
• Heating set for frost protection in winter
• Post redirected or collected
• Certificates on file with renewal dates diarised
• A spending limit agreed for urgent repairs