Second home insurance

We've partnered with Pikl to help you find second home insurance that suits your needs.

  • Public liabilty cover for guest-related incidents

  • Second home insurance designed specifically with owners’ needs in mind

  • Get quotes from a panel of trusted providers

What is second home insurance?

Like house insurance, insurance for a second home covers your property and the contents inside of it. Unlike residential homes, second homes are often left unoccupied for longer, which makes them more open to risk. Standard home insurance policies generally don’t cover properties that are left unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days, which is why you need a specialist insurance provider to cover your second home.

Who is Pikl?

Pikl specialises in second home insurance, comparing offers from top UK insurers in the industry. This means you get all the benefits of comparing holiday let and second home insurance, but only need to deal with a single team. Pikl is based in the UK and they're rated 'Excellent' on Trustpilot.

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What type of second home insurance do I need?

The kind of second home insurance you need depends on how you’re using the property:

It's unoccupied:

Most standard home insurance policies restrict the amount of time you can leave a house unoccupied. Some insurers limit this to 30 days and others to 60 days. Any longer than this and you’ll need a specialised provider. That’s where our partner Pikl can help get the cover you need.

It’s a rental property:

If you're renting your second property out long term then you're likely to want landlord or letting insurance. This policy is designed to cover you for specific risks you face as a landlord. Examples include cover for lost rental income or for damage caused by your tenants.

It’s a holiday home in the UK:

If you let out your second home as a holiday home, second home insurance or holiday let insurance may be the best option. This covers you for having other people stay in your property, and also includes public liability insurance.

What our home insurance expert says

"It’s important to bear in mind most standard home insurance policies aren’t suitable for second homes. But some second home owners get regular home insurance and don't inform the insurer that it's a second home.

This can come back to bite them when they attempt to make a claim, as the terms and conditions of the policy aren't met. This means the insurer is likely to reject your claim and possibly even cancel your policy, which sometimes makes it harder to get insurance in the future."

Matthew Harwood, Home & lifestyle insurance expert at Confused.com
Home & lifestyle insurance expert Confused.com logo

What does a second home insurance policy cover?

 

The level of cover you get depends on the type of policy you choose. Our partner Pikl offers tailored policies to make sure you get the cover you need. Policies can include cover for:

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Buildings and contents policy:

  • Fire, lightning, explosions, storm and flood damage
  • Escape of water  and oil
  • Theft  and attempted theft
  • Collisions of vehicles and animals
  • Malicious acts and vandalism
  • Subsidence, heave, and landslip
  • Falling trees, telegraph posts, solar panels, or lamp posts
  • Loss of rent, or alternative accommodation (following a claim under the policy)
  • Replacement locks (following lost or stolen keys)
  • Property owners' liability
  • Accidental damage to fixtures and fittings
  • Personal liability
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Guest related insurance:

  • Theft, malicious and accidental damage cover
  • Escape of water and fire
  • Replacement locks
  • Legal expenses cover
  • Up to £2 million liability per claim
  • Alternative accommodation and kennelling
  • Pest infestation, including bed bugs
  • Emergency services damage
  • Accidental/malicious damage to electric vehicle charging points

Top tips for getting the right insurance

Here’s some of our top tips to make sure you get the cover you need:

  • Make sure you choose the appropriate insurance for your property’s intended use. Don’t try to use typical home insurance for a second home.
  • Tell your insurer about any extra safety measures for your second home, such as CCTV or smart locks.
  • Make sure you review your policy before accepting it to check it covers additional requirements like guest-related cover if you need it.

What makes somewhere a 'main residence'?

'Main residence' is a legal term. By law everyone is required to have a main residence where they're registered to vote and pay tax.

It's usually the house where you and your family live for most of the time, and where most of your possessions are kept.

Second homes are treated differently under law in terms of council tax and capital gains tax, for example, and the same applies to home insurance. Visit GOV.UK to find out more about second home council tax.

Is second home insurance more expensive?

The cost of second home insurance varies, but it’s likely to be more expensive than standard home insurance because the risk is greater.

The price is based on factors like:

  • How you use the property
  • How often it’s occupied
  • Location
  • The level of cover you choose

For example, if the property is unoccupied for long periods, any problems might go unnoticed for longer:

  • An unoccupied property could be more at risk of burglary or vandalism
  • A water leak might be undiscovered for weeks, resulting in extensive damage
  • Storm damage to the roof could leave the building and contents at risk of water damage

Types of home insurance

Home insurance guides

Page last reviewed: 25/04/2024

Reviewed by: Matthew Harwood

Confused.com second home insurance is arranged and administered by Pikl Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No: 773457. Registered in England and Wales under company number 10449346 with registered office Suite B, 2nd Floor, The Atrium, St. Georges Street, Norwich, England, NR3 1AB. Confused.com is an intermediary and receives commission, which is a flat rate fee from Pikl if you decide to buy through their website.