This type of insurance protects you from losses incurred by or injury to someone visiting or staying at your holiday home.
Standard home insurance is tailored to cover properties that are permanently occupied. Holiday properties need a different kind of cover because they’re usually left empty for long periods and are at greater risk of theft or damage. This form of cover is usually called holiday home insurance and is designed to cover a second property used by you and your family on and off throughout the year.
If you rent out the property or allow friends and family to stay there for free you may want to consider holiday let insurance instead.
Whether you buy a holiday home policy or holiday let cover make sure it includes public liability insurance. This will protect you from claims brought by other people, including tradesmen, visitors, paying and non-paying guests.
Holiday properties need a different kind of cover because they’re usually left empty for long periods and are at greater risk of theft or damage."
Holiday home insurance usually offers the same cover as a standard home insurance policy, including:
Building insurance: This covers permanent structures, such as walls, roofs, floors and windows, as well as fixtures and fittings.
Contents insurance: This covers any personal belongings you keep at home.
You shouldn’t keep valuable items in your holiday property when you’re not there because they’re at greater risk of theft.
Depending on your policy, you may also be offered extra protection specific to holiday homes, including:
Longer unoccupancy period: this covers your home when it’s left empty for typically more than 30 or 60 days. Some holiday home policies offer an unlimited period of protection. Our comparison shows the unoccupancy period each policy offers.
Travel to your property: this covers the cost of travelling to your overseas holiday home in case of an emergency. Our comparison shows which policies cover properties abroad.
It’s not a legal requirement, but UK and foreign mortgage providers usually insist you have buildings cover to protect their investment. The same goes for public liability insurance if you let your holiday home. In any event, it makes sense to get adequate protection.
This type of insurance protects you from losses incurred by or injury to someone visiting or staying at your holiday home.
If you hire gardeners or cleaners for your holiday home, you might want to consider employers' liability insurance.
If someone stops paying rent but is still living at the holiday home, then rent guarantee insurance would cover for loss of rent or income. Some policies might include this cover, but always check the policy documents carefully.
This type of insurance protects you from losses incurred by or injury to someone visiting or staying at your holiday home.
If you hire gardeners or cleaners for your holiday home, you might want to consider employers' liability insurance.
If someone stops paying rent but is still living at the holiday home, then rent guarantee insurance would cover for loss of rent or income. Some policies might include this cover, but always check the policy documents carefully.
You may be able to leave your holiday home unoccupied for an unlimited period or for a maximum duration, such as for one, two, three or six months. Always check policy terms to see how long you can leave your property unoccupied.
No, not if it isn’t your main abode and left unoccupied for long periods. Most standard home insurance policies only cover your main residence, which can’t be left empty for 30 or 60 days.
Yes, most domestic and overseas holiday home insurance policies can cover villas, chalets and apartments. Many will also cover static caravans.
Holiday home insurance providers can cover most major European countries like France, Spain and Italy. Specialist policies can cater for people with a holiday home further afield. Here’s more on how to insure your holiday home abroad.
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