Holiday home insurance

What is holiday home insurance?

Holiday home insurance is a specialised insurance policy designed to protect second properties like a lodge in Cornwall or a chalet in the Alps. It usually covers buildings, contents, liability and often accidental damage.

What does holiday home insurance cover?

• Buildings and contents – fixes and replacements for structural damage and furnishings, white goods and carpets.
• Accidental damage – say a guest breaks a window or spills red wine on carpets.
• Liability cover – covers legal or medical costs if someone gets hurt on your property.
• Loss of income – useful if you rent the property out but it’s unliveable due to an insured event.
• Optional overseas cover – for properties abroad, extending protection to international locations.

What doesn’t it cover?

This varies by insurer, but typically:

• Wear and tear, routine maintenance or general ageing
• Certain water damage if the property’s left empty for too long
• High‑value items like jewellery unless you’ve specifically declared them
• Flood or earthquake cover unless it’s added - especially important if your holiday home is overseas

Do you need holiday home insurance?

It’s worth considering if you own a second property. Standard home insurance won’t cover you unless your provider specifically includes second homes. And if you’re letting it out, you need the right cover in place to avoid gaps in protection or invalidated claims.

Does standard home insurance cover holiday or second homes?

Typically, no. Most UK home insurance policies are tailored to your primary residence. They usually won’t pay out if:

• The property is left unoccupied for long periods
• It’s rented out via Airbnb or other similar platforms
• It’s located in another country

To be safe, get dedicated holiday home insurance rather than relying on standard cover or risk being left uninsured.

Standard home insurance is there for your main place of residence. If you're away from your first home visiting your holiday home, it's still important to ensure your home is protected.

Limitations to holiday home insurance

While holiday home policies are more comprehensive than standard ones, they do have limits:

• Unoccupied conditions – most insurers expect the property to be visited regularly. Leave it empty beyond that, and you may invalidate claims.
• Property usage – like all insurance, you’ll need to declare if you’re renting the place out.
• Geographical restrictions – some policies only cover certain regions or countries.
• Excess levels and claim caps – read the small print carefully to know how much you’ll pay upfront in the event of a claim and what limits apply.

Finding cheaper holiday home insurance

Here’s how to save without compromising cover:

1. Compare providers – use comparison sites to shop around.
2. Combine policies – if you own multiple properties, some insurers offer a discount for multi‑home covers.
3. Increase your voluntary excess – it boosts premium savings, but be sure you can afford it if you claim.
4. Review contents cover – only insure high‑value items separately if needed.
5. Improve security – installing alarms, safes, and secure doors/windows often leads to savings.
6. Check unoccupied clauses – see how long your property can be left empty; extend visits or hire a property manager to avoid invalidating cover.