Bromley Council is set to examine its approach to charging for empty properties, following a discussion at the Executive, Resources and Contracts Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 24 November 2025.

The review was prompted by a discussion during which the Insurance and Risk Manager stated he was not aware of any commercial insurer offering policies for empty commercial properties. He also noted that the council's Property Department was responsible for ensuring compliance with standard insurance policy unoccupancy conditions, which are outlined in the Insurance Fund Annual Report 2024-2025.

According to the report, any insured property that is unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days has restricted insurance cover, limited to fire, lightning, explosion or earthquake, and aircraft or other aerial devices or articles dropped from them.

For an insurance claim to be covered for an unoccupied building, there must be compliance with the following conditions:

  • (a) such unoccupied buildings are secured against illegal entry and all external doors and accessible external windows shall be fitted with good quality locks
  • (b) all services to be disconnected other than limited services required for security guards fire and burglar alarms unless otherwise agreed by the Company in writing
  • (c) all letter boxes shall be sealed to prevent insertion of material
  • (d) perimeter fences walls and gates shall be kept complete and maintained
  • (e) such unoccupied buildings shall be kept clear both internally and externally of combustible materials and not be used for storage
  • (f) vegetation surrounding such unoccupied buildings shall be kept down
  • (g) the Business Premises shall be inspected thoroughly internally and externally at least once every seven days (or at a frequency agreed by the Company in writing) by the Named Insured or a responsible person appointed by the Named Insured and a record maintained of such inspections and any defects rectified without delay

The committee noted that there were a number of empty properties within the Council's portfolio. It was suggested that there should be a further item at a future meeting and that the Council's Property Division should be invited to join the discussion.

The Insurance and Risk Manager clarified that he was not aware of any commercial insurer offering policies for empty commercial properties and that the council's Property Department was responsible for ensuring compliance with standard insurance policy unoccupancy conditions.

The committee suggested a further item at a future meeting to discuss empty properties within the council's portfolio, with the Council's Property Division invited to join the discussion.