Ceta has analysed almost 2,000 live unoccupied property policies, with a combined rebuild value of more than £720m, to identify areas with the highest concentrations of specialist cover.
According to the analysis, Wales accounts for five of the seven postcodes with the highest concentrations. Hebden Bridge and Darwen also feature prominently, while areas in Norfolk, Northumberland, Cornwall and County Durham complete the top 10.
Ceta said its data suggests rural and coastal communities have a higher concentration of unoccupied property policies than major cities.
Properties can remain empty for extended periods for a range of reasons, including inheritance, renovation, repairs following flooding or fire, longer tenancy voids and delays in selling.
Ceta said standard home and landlord insurance policies typically restrict cover when a property is left unoccupied for an extended period, often between 30 and 60 days, meaning owners may need specialist insurance depending on the terms of their policy.
The broker said sales of unoccupied property insurance policies during 2025 were 500% higher than in 2020, while conversion rates increased fivefold over the same period.
Harry Peters, B2B operations manager at Ceta, commented: "This is the first time an insurer has mapped exactly where the UK’s biggest unoccupied risks are located, and just how exposed homeowners across the UK are to the wide range of vulnerabilities associated with empty properties. Worryingly, a very large proportion of these owners might be completely unaware of the risk they are carrying, with the inadequacy of a standard policy only revealing itself when they attempt to make a claim."
He continued: "Our data also reveals a bigger story, namely that what was once considered a niche insurance product is becoming increasingly mainstream. Intermediaries with the right insurance partner are better placed to proactively discuss unoccupied insurance with their clients, thereby differentiating themselves as trusted advisors while protecting the growing number exposed to genuine financial risk."
