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Who insures the property and when?


When you buy a property at auction, you become legally responsible for insuring it from the moment the hammer falls — that is, from the point of exchange of contracts, which happens immediately at auction. This is very different from a standard property transaction, where the buyer usually takes on insurance responsibility at completion.

WHEN DOES RESPONSIBILITY BEGIN?

  • Immediately on exchange, which is the moment your bid is accepted at the auction.
  • Even though you won’t move in or legally own the property until completion, you bear the risk from exchange.

This means that if the property burns down or is damaged between exchange and completion, and there is no valid insurance, you may still be legally required to complete the purchase and pay the full price.

DO I NEED TO ARRANGE INSURANCE MYSELF?

Yes — unless the legal pack clearly states that the seller is maintaining insurance and the benefit of that cover will pass to you (which is rare). You should:

  • Arrange buildings insurance as soon as you win the bid.
  • Make sure the cover is adequate for the rebuild cost of the property.
  • Check whether there are any special requirements (e.g. for vacant properties, listed buildings, or leaseholds).

If you’re using a mortgage, your lender will usually require you to have suitable insurance in place by the time of completion — and they may want to see proof earlier.

LEASEHOLD CONSIDERATIONS

If the property is leasehold:

  • The freeholder or management company usually insures the building, not you.
  • But you may still need to confirm that adequate cover is in place, and that the costs are reasonable.

SUMMARY

You are responsible for insuring the property from the moment the hammer falls. Do not wait until completion — make sure your buildings insurance is in place immediately after the auction to protect your investment.