Second home insurance

The key to protecting your second home

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What is second home insurance?

Second home insurance covers a property that isn’t your main home. It can help protect against things such as damage, theft and loss.

Because second homes are often not used in the same way as a main home, they need to be insured differently. For example, the property:

  • May be left empty for long periods

  • 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 property a second home?

Second homes are treated differently when it comes to law and tax. That’s why it’s important to understand which property counts as your main home and which one is your second home.

You have two years from getting a second home to nominate your main residence. If you’re not sure which one that is, it’s a good idea to speak to a tax adviser.

They'll consider factors such as:

  • Where you’re registered to vote

  • Which address you use for banking and legal purposes

  • Where you keep most of your belongings

  • Where you and your family spend most of your time.

Houses by the seafront

How is second home insurance different from regular home insurance?

Second homes are generally treated differently to your main property. For example, you might:

  • Leave your second home empty for long stretches

  • Let or lend it out as a holiday home

  • Rent it out long-term.

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

Bear in mind

Some people take out cover on a second home without telling their insurance provider that the property isn’t their main home.

If you do this, your provider may refuse to pay out, meaning you’d need to cover the costs of home repairs or replacing stolen belongings.

Is second home insurance more expensive?

Our data shows that people typically pay

£1943
a year to insure a main residence
£2433
a year to insure a holiday home

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.

  • On the other hand, you could have fewer belongings in your second home. If so, you might need less contents cover, which could help keep costs down.

More broadly, the cost of insuring a second home varies, depending on factors such as:

  • How and when you use your second home

  • The level of cover you need

  • Where the property is and how it was built

  • Your claims history

  • The excess you agree to pay towards a claim

  • What security you have

  • The rebuild value of the property

  • The cost of replacing your belongings.

3 Based on 51% of customers who compared quotes for this type of policy in June 2026.

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What does home insurance cover?

Policies vary, so it’s important to check the terms and conditions. You may need to pay extra for some forms of cover.

Typically covered

Not typically 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 for a second home depends on how you use it and what you want to protect. Second home insurance can be buildings insurance, contents insurance or a mix of both.

Buildings insurance

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    Covers the home's structure, such as the walls, roof and windows

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    Protects fixtures and fittings, such as bathroom suites and fitted kitchens

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    Includes cover for garages, sheds and other outbuildings.

Compare buildings insurance

Contents insurance

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    Covers things inside the home, including:

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    Furniture

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    Home appliances

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    Jewellery and collectibles.

Compare contents insurance

Combined insurance

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    Buildings and contents insurance in one policy

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    Can be more convenient if you need to claim

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    A combined quote could be cheaper than two standalone policies

Compare combined cover

Optional extras for your secondary home insurance

You can usually tag on optional extras to your second home policy for an added cost. This lets you tailor your cover to your needs. Some common add-ons include:

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Accidental damage insurance

Accidental damage insurance covers everyday mishaps, such as spilling red wine on the carpet or drilling through a pipe while doing DIY.

This add-on can take typical premiums from around £174 to £208 with a combined policy3.

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Legal expenses cover

Legal expenses cover helps with legal costs if you need to defend a claim or take someone else to court, such as a nuisance neighbour.

A combined home insurance policy with legal expenses cover typically costs £2103.

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Home emergency cover

Home emergency cover gives you quick help with urgent problems, such as a burst pipe or broken boiler.

It typically costs around £207 with combined buildings and contents insurance3.

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Loss of rent cover

If you let a property long term, loss of rent cover could help replace lost income if tenants stop paying rent.

When you compare with us, you can tell us if you’re looking for second home insurance or that you’re a landlord.

Other types of second home insurance

How you use your second home usually determines the type of policy you need.
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Did you know?

There are around 268,000 properties in the UK recorded as second homes, according to the 2025 Local authority Council Taxbase in England.

How can I get a quote for second home insurance?

It’s easy to find second home insurance that suits you and won’t break the bank. Simply, tell us a bit about yourself, your home and the level of cover you need, and we'll show you a list of tailored quotes from a range of trusted providers.

Get a quote
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Helen Phipps

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.”

Helen Phipps, Insurance expert

Home insurance guides

Find out more about home insurance options, including cover for unoccupied properties and holiday lets

A group of older adults in a living room
Holiday home insurance
Holiday homes can be more vulnerable as they're not always occupied
Home ownership
Renting to family members
Dive into the perks and pitfalls of letting to a relative
Cover & add-ons
Short-term home insurance
Short-term policies can last for as little as a few weeks
Cover & add-ons
Unoccupied house insurance
You may need additional cover if you leave your home empty
All home insurance guides

FAQs

Can you insure an empty house?

Yes, you can insure an empty house, but you’ll need unoccupied house insurance. This type of insurance:

  • Is designed for properties left empty for longer than a standard home insurance policy

  • Often costs more than standard cover because an empty home is seen as a bigger risk.

For example, a leak could go unnoticed for longer and cause more damage.

Do you need second home insurance for a family member?

If you let your second home to a family member, you may need landlord insurance.

Let your insurance provider know that the tenants 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 listed second home.

Buildings with features of architectural or historical interest are typically more expensive to insure. That’s because older properties and traditional materials can be more at risk of fire or damp.

Looking for something else?

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A group of older adults in a living roomHoliday home insurance
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Helen Phipps
Reviewed 13 Jul 2026 by Helen Phipps Insurance expert

Helen’s our resident home insurance expert, as the former Head of Home Insurance at Compare the Market. She's also experienced with car insurance and pet insurance from her previous roles across commercial, partnerships and as a freelance consultant, working with more than 100 insurers across a variety of insurance products.

Methodology

1 Correct as of June 2026.

2 Based on the % of respondents reporting Compare the Market is their preferred brand in the last 12 months vs. other leading PCWs. Source: Savanta BrandVue Financial Services, National Representative Survey of 12,257 respondents (June 2026)​

3 Based on 51% of customers who compared quotes for this type of policy in June 2026.