Holiday Home Insurance
Firstly, let’s clarify what a holiday home is. In short, it’s a property you own that isn’t your primary residence. You can use it for your breaks, rent it out to friends, let it pay guests, or combine all three!
If you want to use it as a holiday let and benefit from tax breaks, it must meet HMRC rules. It will need to be furnished and available for letting for at least 210 days a year. But that still means you could use it yourself for up to 22 weeks.
How is insuring your UK holiday home any different from insuring your permanent home
Insuring your holiday getaway differs from insuring your main home because the way you use it isn’t the same – you won’t live at your holiday home full-time and might rent it out to paying guests.
These circumstances could make your holiday home more vulnerable. If there’s a leak in the roof, for instance, there may not be anyone there to notice it before it causes a lot of damage – and an empty house could be easier to break into. Plus, paying guests might damage your property or injure themselves while they’re there.
Specialist holiday home insurance can cover these risks, giving you peace of mind that your home-away-from-home is protected.
What is covered by your holiday home?
Buildings and contents insurance for a holiday home typically offers the same coverage as a standard home insurance policy.
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Buildings cover – ensures the structure of your holiday home against damage from events like fire, flooding, storms, and vandalism. It also covers permanent fixtures, including fitted kitchens and swimming pools.
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Contents cover – insures your furniture, gadgets, and valuable possessions in your holiday home, including sofas, beds, and smart TVs.
Depending on the provider, specialist holiday home and holiday let policies could also include:
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Cover for holiday homes that are empty for more than 30 consecutive days
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Cover for friends and family, as well as paying guests
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Public liability covers you if you let your holiday home out to paying guests. This could protect you if someone injures themselves on your property and decides to sue you.
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We provide loss of income and alternative accommodation cover if you rent out your holiday home and it becomes unfit to stay in due to damage.
What is Holiday Home Insurance
It’s just home insurance specifically designed to cover your second property, whether you let it out or not.
You can buy holiday home insurance for the building and its contents or combine both into one policy.
Buildings insurance will cover the structure of your holiday home and pay for repairs if fire, storms, flooding, vandalism, or other insured events damage it.
Contents insurance covers the possessions inside your holiday home, including furniture, TVs, carpets, and any personal property you keep in it.
Do I need Holiday Home Insurance?
While it’s not a legal requirement, there are several reasons why taking out home insurance for your holiday property is a good idea.
First, mortgage lenders often require you to have building insurance as a loan condition. But even without a mortgage, this cover is still vital for protecting your property against unexpected disasters.
You should also consider protecting your home’s contents, especially if others will be using the property. This makes accidents and breakages more likely.
The chances of losing or misplacing house keys also increase as more guests come to stay. And there’s a higher risk of break-ins if your place is left empty for long periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Is it worth buying a holiday home UK?
If you are buying a holiday home to enjoy a little bit of extra income from holiday letting or want to sublet your lodge to help with the annual running costs, buying a holiday home in the UK may prove worthwhile.
Question: Can I insure property abroad from the UK?
Yes, many UK insurers will offer insurance policies for holiday homes abroad, which means you don't have to buy a policy in the country in which your holiday home is located. A holiday home policy can give you the same cover as your residential property, including: Buildings insurance.
Question: Can I insure a house that is not in my name UK?
However, insurance coverage can be extended to individuals who have a significant legal interest in the property, such as in cases where contracts have been exchanged for a sale, or when you're a tenant with a financial interest in the property.
Question: Is it worth buying a holiday lodge in the UK?
A holiday lodge is an excellent investment. First of all, its virtual price tag is much lower than traditional holiday homes. Contemporary holiday lodges are energy-efficient, which will save you money in the long run, and include amenities like on-site wi-fi.
Question: What happens to house insurance when someone dies in the UK?
Typically, the insurance policy can be transferred to the name of the executor(s) until probate has been granted. Of course, depending on how long the property is likely to remain empty, an unoccupied house insurance policy may need to be taken out to provide adequate cover in the intervening period.
Question: Is it illegal to not have home insurance UK?
The quick answer is no. Home insurance is not a legal requirement in the UK. But there are certain situations that require either buildings or contents insurance, depending upon whether you own the property.
Question: What is the lifespan of a holiday lodge?
Life expectancy factors of holiday lodges made from high-quality materials could last longer than average, estimated up to 40-50 years. In contrast, lower-quality lodges could last 20-30 years. The climate and environment will also affect how long a holiday lodge lasts.
Do you have a question about holiday home insurance?
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