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

How to compare policies

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Tell us about your letting

Tell us if the home is for you, second home, or holiday guests. Standard insurance usually fails if a house is empty for 30+ days, so this ensures you get a specialist policy that actually pays out.

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Tell us about you

Just the basics. Provide your contact info and a quick history of any previous claims so Pikl can verify who you are and build an accurate risk profile.

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Tell us about the property

Give us the "bricks and mortar" details, like what it's made of and what security you have in place. Don't forget the rebuild cost - that’s the price to fix it, not the market value.

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Compare your quotes

Review your options side-by-side. Look past the price to check for "must-haves" like public liability for guests and additional cover for things like burst pipes while you’re away.

What is second home insurance?

Second home insurance works a lot like standard home insurance - it protects both your property and the belongings inside it.

The key difference is that second homes are often left empty for longer periods, which can increase the risk of things like damage or break-ins.

Most standard home insurance policies won’t cover a property that’s been unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days. That’s why second homes usually need a specialist policy designed to cover those longer gaps.

Do you need insurance for a second home?

It’s not a legal requirement to have second home insurance in the UK.

However, if the property has a mortgage, your lender will usually require you to have at least buildings insurance in place.

Who is Pikl?

Pikl specialises in second home insurance, comparing policies from leading UK insurers so you can find the right cover in one place.

You get the benefits of comparing holiday let and second home insurance without having to deal with multiple providers.

Pikl is based in the UK, making it easy to get support when you need it, and the team is on hand to answer questions and help you choose the right policy.

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What makes a property a second home?

A property is usually considered a second home if:

  • It isn’t your main residence - you live somewhere else most of the time
  • You already own another property as your primary home
  • It’s used occasionally, such as for get-aways, weekends, or short stays
  • It may be left empty for longer periods, which can increase the risk of issues like storm damage or break-ins
  • It’s used as a holiday home, rental property, or somewhere to stay for work
  • It’s fully furnished and ready to live in, even if you’re not there all the time

It’s treated as an additional property for legal and tax purposes, such as council tax or stamp duty

What type of second home insurance do I need?

Second home insurance typically comes in three main types of cover:

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.

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 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.

The type of second home insurance you need will depend on how you use the property:

  • If you use it as a holiday home: Check that your policy covers periods when the property is left unoccupied for long stretches, as many insurers set limits.
  • If you rent it out: You may need landlord or letting insurance, which can cover risks like tenant damage and loss of rental income.
  • If it’s unoccupied: You may need specialist cover if the property is empty for extended periods, as standard policies often won’t cover this.

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

How to get cheaper second home insurance

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Compare policies

Shopping around can help you find the best price for the cover you need.

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Increase your excess

A higher home insurance excess can lower your premium (but make sure it’s still affordable).

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Improve security

Adding approved locks, alarms, or CCTV can reduce risk and potentially lower costs.

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Limit unoccupied periods

Some insurers offer better rates if the property is checked regularly.

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Bundle cover

Combining buildings and contents insurance can sometimes be cheaper than buying separately.

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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.

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