A holiday home requires specialist insurance — standard home insurance will not cover a property that is regularly let to strangers, left empty for extended periods or used by multiple different occupants throughout the year. Here is what holiday home insurance covers, how much it costs and the differences between UK and overseas cover.
Verdict 2026
UK holiday home from: £200–£500/year | Overseas holiday home from: £300–£800/year | Key risks: tenant damage, accidental damage, public liability, loss of rental income | Standard home insurance: does not cover holiday let use
Why Standard Home Insurance Does Not Work for Holiday Homes
Standard policies assume the property is your primary residence
Holiday letting to paying guests is excluded from standard policies
Periods of vacancy exceed the standard 30–60 day unoccupied clause
Multiple different occupants throughout the year creates higher claims risk
Letting income requires specialist loss of rent cover
What Holiday Home Insurance Covers
Cover type
UK holiday home
Overseas holiday home
Buildings (structure)
Yes — standard
Yes — local rebuild costs apply
Contents (owner’s furnishings)
Yes
Yes
Guest accidental damage
Yes — usually included
Yes — check limits
Public liability (guest injury)
Yes — essential
Yes — essential
Loss of rental income
Yes — if uninhabitable due to insured event
Yes — check policy
Malicious damage by guests
Usually included
Check policy
Theft by guests
Some policies
Some policies — less common
Legal expenses (eviction, disputes)
Add-on
Add-on
Overseas-specific risks (local laws)
N/A
Essential — local compliance varies by country
UK Holiday Home Insurance Cost 2026
Property type
Buildings + contents + liability
With loss of rent cover
1–2 bed cottage/flat
£200–£350/year
£280–£450/year
3–4 bed house
£280–£500/year
£380–£650/year
Large rural property (5+ beds)
£450–£800/year
£600–£1,000/year
Coastal property (flood risk)
Add 20–50%
Higher claims risk from weather
Overseas Holiday Home Insurance
Insuring a property abroad is more complex. You generally need:
A policy issued in or compliant with the laws of the country where the property is located
UK insurers that specialise in overseas holiday homes — including Saga, HomeProtect and Intasure
Local liability requirements — these vary significantly by country
Currency risk consideration — rebuilding costs are in local currency
Check if holiday letting is legal in your area — some French, Spanish and Portuguese regions restrict short-term letting
Best Holiday Home Insurance Providers UK 2026
Provider
UK holiday homes
Overseas holiday homes
Speciality
Schofields
Yes
Yes
Long-established specialist; good for complex properties
HomeProtect
Yes
Some countries
Flexible; unoccupied periods
Intasure
Yes
Yes — wide coverage
Strong overseas specialist; Spain, France, Portugal
Saga
Yes
Yes — selected countries
Good for over-50s landlords
Adrian Flux
Yes
Some countries
Good for unusual or older properties
Verdict 2026
Holiday home insurance starts from around £200/year for a UK property. Standard home insurance is inadequate — it does not cover holiday letting, guest damage or extended vacancies. Public liability cover for guest injuries is essential. Overseas holiday home insurance requires policies compliant with local laws — use a specialist like Intasure or Schofields. Always include loss of rental income cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need special insurance for a holiday home UK?
Yes. Standard home insurance does not cover holiday letting, repeated vacancies or paying guests. You need specialist holiday home or holiday let insurance that includes public liability, guest accidental damage and loss of rental income.
How much is holiday home insurance UK 2026?
A 2–3 bed UK holiday home with buildings, contents, liability and loss of rent cover typically costs £280–500/year. Larger or coastal properties cost more.
Can I insure my French or Spanish holiday home from the UK?
Yes — specialist providers like Intasure and Schofields offer policies for overseas properties. The policy must comply with the insurance laws of the country where the property is located.
Sources: Schofields, Intasure, HomeProtect, Saga holiday home insurance 2026, HMRC furnished holiday lettings rules. April 2026.
Advertisement
Editorial Disclaimer
The content on Kaeltripton.com is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, tax, legal or regulatory advice. Kaeltripton.com is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and is not a financial adviser, mortgage broker, insurance intermediary or investment firm. Nothing on this site should be construed as a personal recommendation. Rates, figures and product details are indicative only, subject to change without notice, and should always be verified directly with the relevant provider, HMRC, the FCA register, the Bank of England, Ofgem or other appropriate authority before any financial decision is made. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. If you require regulated financial advice, please consult a qualified adviser authorised by the FCA.
CT
Chandraketu Tripathi
Finance Editor · Kaeltripton.com
Chandraketu (CK) Tripathi, founder and lead editor of Kael Tripton. 22 years in finance and marketing across 23 markets. Writes on UK personal finance, tax, mortgages, insurance, energy, and investing. Sources: HMRC, FCA, Ofgem, BoE, ONS.
