Not sure whether you need specialist or non-standard home insurance for your holiday home? Find out more in our guides!
When might a property become unoccupied?
Do I need to let my home insurance provider know my property is unoccupied?
Not sure whether you need second home insurance? We’ve taken the time to answer some of your frequently asked questions.
It can sometimes be difficult to find home insurance that will provide sufficient cover for holiday homes (even if you don’t rent it out) due to the fact that they can be left unoccupied for long periods during the off season. Holiday (or second home) insurance provides protection for both unoccupied properties as well as the risk of renting your property as a short term let.
Perhaps you're looking for holiday cottage insurance? Or you own a country home with a guest building that you only visit during the summer? Whatever the case may be, Howden has developed non-standard insurance products to provide you with holiday rental insurance and second home insurance.
Howden's holiday let insurance is designed for people who own properties which are not classed as their main place of residence, rather their second home or getaway hotspot. You may also be able to find holiday let insurance cover for commercial holiday homes, or alternatively just for when family and friends will be staying there.
Anyone who takes out second home insurance should always notify their insurance company that it is for a second home. If you fail to do so, your insurer could refuse to pay out if you make a claim.
If you keep any belongings or furniture at the property, you may need to add contents insurance cover to your holiday home insurance policy to make sure they’re protected against unexpected damage – particularly if the property is being used as a short-term let. Speak to the Howden team to understand what cover is available for your holiday or second home.
A holiday home is a second home that you rent out to paying guests as temporary accommodation. If your guests live there long-term with a tenancy agreement in place, this becomes a let property and you’ll likely require specialist landlord insurance to fully protect your investment.
If you’re only renting your property for short-term lets, either privately or through companies like AirBnB, then you’ll likely require holiday home insurance. This is because, more often than not, standard home insurance is unsuitable for holiday homes as they’re often left empty for longer than 30 days, making them a higher risk for theft or damage.
Howden provide cover for all sorts of non-standard properties, including:
It’s usually a requirement for your mortgage to have some form of buildings insurance in place, and they may request to be added as a note of interest to the policy. Check the terms of your mortgage to see what’s required.
But outside of what’s required for your mortgage, buying a property is probably one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your lifetime even if you’re not living there, so it’s likely you’ll want to protect it at all costs. Taking out holiday home buildings insurance could help you avoid a difficult financial situation should the unexpected happen.
If you’re letting your holiday property furnished, you may require contents cover to protect any items you own in the property - such as your carpets, curtains, furniture, household utensils, kitchen electrical goods and soft furnishings.
If you don't have specialist requirements, take a look at Howden's range of standard home insurance policies
