Vacancy in a property policy is determined by the absence of which elements?

• A. People and Furnishings
• B. People and Vehicles
• C. Occupants and Appliances
• D. Residents and Personal Belongings

Answer: (A)

Vacancy is determined by whether the space is devoid of both people and furnishings. In property insurance, a building is considered vacant when there are no occupants and no personal property inside to indicate ongoing use. This distinction matters because many policies treat vacant properties differently, often with higher risk of certain losses or coverage limitations if a building is empty. If a property still has furnishings or appliances but no residents, it’s typically described as unoccupied rather than vacant. The key idea is the absence of people and furnishings, not the absence of vehicles, appliances alone, or residents with belongings.