Second home insurance

Are you among the households who own one of the 596,000 second homes in the UK? Whether you let it occasionally, rent it out or leave it unoccupied, you’ll want to consider second home insurance.

Here’s what you need to know and how to get cover that’s right for you.

What is second home insurance?

Second home insurance offers financial protection for a property that isn’t your main residence. It can cover risks such as damage, theft and loss.

Second homes are usually used differently to a main home, so they need to be insured differently. For instance, they may be left vacant for long periods or let out to holidaymakers when you’re not staying there.

When applying for home insurance, you’ll need to tell your provider that the property isn’t your main residence.

What makes a house a second home, and why is second home insurance different from regular home insurance? Learn what’s typically covered, what types of second home insurance are available, and what optional extras you can add for extra peace of mind. Discover whether second home insurance is more expensive, how to get a good deal, and what information you’ll need to get a quote for your property.

What makes a property a second home?

Second homes are treated differently in law and for tax purposes. So it’s important to understand which property counts as a primary residence and which as a second home. You have two years from acquiring a second home to nominate which is your primary residence.

Several things are taken into account, including:

Where you’re registered to vote
Which address you use for banking and legal purposes
Where you keep most of your possessions
Where you and your family spend most of your time.

If you’re not sure which property to nominate, it’s a good idea to consult a tax adviser.

Why is second home insurance different from regular home insurance?

It’s because, very often, you’ll treat your second home differently to your full-time residence. For example, you might:

Leave your second home unoccupied for long periods
Let or lend out your property as a holiday home
Rent out your second home long-term.

Doing any of these might break the terms of a standard home insurance policy, meaning that you wouldn’t be covered.

Some people take out insurance on a second home without telling their insurance provider that the property isn’t their main residence. This could mean you won’t be able to claim on the policy. Instead, you’ll be left to meet the costs of repairs if your home is damaged or of replacing your possessions if they’re stolen.

What does home insurance cover in the UK?

Like regular home insurance, second home insurance covers sudden and unforeseen events such as fire, flood or storm. But there are also things it won’t cover you for.

What’s typically covered

Fire damage
Flooding and storm damage
Burst pipes
Subsidence
Theft and vandalism
Falling trees, telegraph poles or pylons.

What’s typically not covered

General wear and tear
Damage caused by poor workmanship or neglect
Electrical or mechanical breakdown
Deliberate damage
Storm damage to fences
Damage caused by pets
Pest infestations.

What type of second home insurance should I get?

The type of insurance you need depends on what you use your second home for and what you want to protect.

Second home insurance can be buildings insurance, contents insurance or a combination of both.

Buildings insurance

Buildings insurance policies for second homes cover:

The structure of the building (eg: walls, roof and windows)
Fixtures and fittings (eg: bathroom suites and fitted kitchens)
Garages, sheds and other outbuildings.

Contents insurance

Second home contents insurance covers possessions, including:

Furniture
Home appliances
Jewellery and collectibles.

Buildings and contents insurance

Combining buildings and contents insurance in one policy can make it more convenient if you need to make a claim. Premiums could also be cheaper, but you’ll need to compare to make sure you get the best second home insurance deal.

Optional extras for your secondary home insurance

You can usually tag on optional extras to your second home policy, for an extra cost. This allows you to tailor your cover to your needs. Some of the most common add-ons include:

Accidental damage insurance

If you want cover for mishaps like spilling red wine on the carpet or drilling through a pipe while doing DIY, add on accidental damage insurance.

Legal expenses cover

To cover the cost of defending claims made by other people or taking someone else to court, such as a nuisance neighbour, legal expenses cover could be useful.

Home emergency cover

Get urgent assistance to fix domestic emergencies such as a burst pipe or broken boiler with home emergency cover.

Loss of rent cover

If your second property is a long-term let, loss of rent cover could help to replace any income from tenants not paying their rent.

When you compare with us, you can specify that you’re looking for second home insurance or that you’re a landlord – and we’ll get you the quotes you need.

Other types of second home insurance

A second home can be used for a variety of purposes, so you may need a particular type of policy to be covered.

Second home insurance for unoccupied homes

Many standard home insurance policies will cover homes that are unoccupied for up to 30 days.

If your second home is unoccupied for longer periods, you’ll need to find a home insurance policy that will give you cover for this.

Find out more about unoccupied property insurance

Second home insurance for holiday homes

If you let out your second home as a holiday home, you may need to look for holiday let insurance. This can include:

Buildings and contents insurance
Public liability insurance to cover legal fees if another person is injured on your property
Employers’ liability insurance – you’re legally required to have this if you employ someone to clean, garden or change the sheets and towels between guests. It offers cover if an employee is injured while working for you.

See more on home insurance for holiday homes

Second home insurance for rental properties

If you’re renting out a second home, you’ll need landlord insurance. This offers cover for the specific issues landlords face. This could include public liability insurance and accidental damage insurance.

You can also get cover if your tenant is unable to pay their rent or needs to move into alternative accommodation. This can be valuable protection to have because if rental payments stop, you could be left seriously out of pocket.

Find out more about landlord insurance

Second home insurance for overseas properties

Although you can’t compare second home house insurance for overseas properties with us, there are insurance providers that offer it.

You can choose a company in the country where your second home is situated or a UK company specialising in overseas properties.

If you aren’t fluent in the local language, it’s very important to choose a company that provides the policy documents in English. An English-speaking call centre is also useful if you need to make a claim.

Did you know?

There are around 263,000 second homes in Europe and 101,000 elsewhere in the world owned by UK households, according to the 2022-23 English Housing Survey.

Is second home insurance more expensive?

The cost of insuring a second home varies. It’s based on such factors as:

How you and your family use your second home
How regularly the home is used
The level of cover you need
Where the property is – is it in a flood-risk or high crime area, for instance?
What materials the home is built from – if it’s a thatched cottage, for example
Your claims history
The excess you agree to pay towards a claim
What security you have
The rebuild value of the property
The cost to replace your belongings.

While second home insurance might cost more than insurance for your main home, it does depend on your situation. For example, there could be more risk of you needing to claim on a second home because you’re not there all the time.

But you could have fewer belongings in your second home, so you might need less contents cover, which could result in a cheaper premium.

What do I need to get a quote for second home insurance?

It’s easy to find second home insurance that suits you and won’t break the bank. Tell us a bit about yourself, your home and the level of cover you need. We’ll need to know:

The property type (flat, semi-detached, terrace etc)
The year the property was built
The number of bedrooms
Whether the roof is flat or pitched
The rebuild cost of your home
The total value of your home contents
Details of any security alarms or systems.

We’ll show you a list of competitive quotes to choose from.

Compare landlord insurance for properties let as holiday homes or long-term lets

Compare landlord insurance

Compare secondary home insurance for personal use

Compare home insurance

What our expert says...

“Second home insurance is essential for protecting your investment, but it comes with unique considerations. Who will be living there? Will it be left empty for long periods?

“Add-ons can help you tailor your policy, so you get the cover you need and avoid having a claim rejected.”

- Anna McEntee, Home, pet and travel insurance expert

Frequently asked questions

Can you insure an empty house?

Yes, you can insure an empty house, but you’ll need unoccupied house insurance. This is designed to cover properties that are left empty for longer than a standard home insurance policy.

Unoccupied property insurance is likely to be more expensive than standard home insurance because insurance providers see a vacant house as a bigger risk. For example, if a leak goes unnoticed, the damage could be much worse than if someone was living in the property.

Do you need second home insurance for a family member?

If you’re letting your second home to a family member, such as one of your children, you may need landlord insurance. But you should let your insurance provider know that the occupants are family members to make sure you have the right cover in place.

Can you get second home building insurance for listed buildings?

Yes, you can get specialist buildings insurance for a second home that’s listed. Buildings with features of architectural or historical interest are typically more expensive to insure than standard buildings. That’s because they tend to be more at risk of fire damage and damp because of their age and the materials they’re built from.