Checks and records for buildings standing empty

A slow leak, a forced door or dumped waste costs far more to put right after a month than after a day. Empty buildings also attract people looking for somewhere to stay or something to take.

• Doors, windows, roof access and boundaries
• Signs of entry, damage or people staying on site
• Water leaks, damp and heating, where we have access
• Post, waste and fly-tipping
• Alarm status and any temporary security measures
• Photographs, where they help to show the condition

Insurers often set conditions for unoccupied buildings, such as how often they are inspected and what must be recorded. Check your policy, and send us the wording. We tell you whether the plan can meet it. Whether your cover is valid is always your insurer's decision.

• A survey of the building and its risks
• A visit schedule
• A dated record of each visit
• A prompt report if something needs action
• Key holding, if you want us to hold the keys

Visits may not be enough for a high-risk building. The plan could add security officers, or CCTV or alarms. If the survey shows that a building needs boarding, repairs or other physical work, we will say so.

Guarding premises or holding keys under contract are both licensable activities. We use only people with the right SIA licence for the task.