• Minimum temperature breaches remain the biggest cause of winter claim refusals.
• Loft insulation can increase freeze risk by leaving tanks colder.
• Older storage heaters often fail to keep properties above required temperatures.
• Empty rentals and holiday-lets face longer leak-detection times and higher losses.
• Simple checks now can prevent costly claim rejections later.
  

Winter compliance mistakes are causing a surge in rejected insurance claims, and holiday-let owners are being caught out by conditions they often don’t realise they’re breaching. 

With short-term lets continuing to grow across the UK, many properties now operate at near-full capacity over summer and then sit empty for long stretches in winter, exactly when water risks and compliance mistakes are most likely to cause serious losses.

Minimum temperatures: the most common breach

Keeping a steady background temperature is sensible for any property in winter –  it helps stabilise the building and reduces the chance of pipes freezing in colder areas. But problems arise when landlords assume this is just optional guidance.

For holiday homes and holiday lets, minimum temperature settings aren’t just good practice,  they’re usually a formal insurance requirement, often around 12–15°C. 

Homes that sit empty between tenancies are more vulnerable too, but in holiday-let properties, where owners may visit less often, even a short drop below the required minimum can be enough for pipes to freeze.

Why loft-insulated homes face higher risk

Ironically, properties with well-insulated loft floors can have colder loft spaces, leaving water tanks far more exposed. We regularly see claims where a failed ballcock valve in a loft tank has caused water to run continuously.

In older properties, especially those with decorative ceilings, these claims can exceed £75,000 and in a holiday-let, a leak can run for days before anyone spots it. 

Storage heaters and accidental non-compliance

Another overlooked issue is older storage heaters, which many landlords rely on to keep empty properties above the threshold. 

Some simply can’t maintain a set temperature in a cold snap. Landlords think the heating is on, but it isn’t holding at the required level – and that’s technically non-compliant.

Newer models with thermostatic controls perform better, but regular winter checks are still advised. 

Drain-down duties for empty properties

For properties left vacant – common in both rentals and holiday homes – many policies give owners two options: keep the heating on at the required setting, or drain down the system completely.

Misunderstanding this requirement can be a big cause of claim refusals, particularly in the holiday-let sector, where long gaps between guests mean leaks go unnoticed.

Reducing risk this winter

Data from the Association of British Insurers shows that the average burst-pipe claim now exceeds £9,000, and is significantly more in holiday-lets due to delayed detection.

Tips to avoid a claim: 

• Test heating systems now – don’t wait for the first freeze.
• Check loft tanks, insulation and valve condition.
• Ensure any storage heaters actually maintain the required temperature.
• If a property will be empty, decide between heating or drain-down and document the check.

Winter losses are preventable, and most claim refusals come down to simple oversights, but they’re oversights that can cost landlords dearly.

By Matt Durrant, insurance expert at i4me.