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Ask the holiday home insurance expert roundup – part 1
Got a question regarding holiday home insurance? Browse our archive of questions asked by fellow holiday home owners and answers from our experienced insurance experts. Feel free to contact us if you have a question.
Q. We wish to insure our UK apartment as a holiday home as we live the major part of the year in Spain. This is the first year of our joint retirement and we expect to spend approximately 3 months in the UK and 9 months in Spain. The longest time in UK at any one time would be (say) two months.
On this basis we assume you would not classify our apartment in UK as our main residence and therefore coverable under your UK holiday home insurance?
A. As your UK apartment is your main and sole UK residence, it can’t be classified as a holiday home/second home. The very nature of a holiday home is that it is a second property that you own in addition to your main UK residence. Unfortunately we are unable to offer cover.
You need to insure it as your main residence, but it is important that you declare the infrequent use of your UK flat to insurers so that you don’t invalidate cover.
Q. We have the option of letting our holiday home for six to seven weeks (rather than the traditional 1-2 weeks). Is our property still suitable for your holiday let insurance or do we need to cover it as a long term let?
A. We would generally consider a period of 6 to 7 weeks still a holiday let, although it depends on what your contract with the ‘occupier’ is. If it’s still let for holiday use then that’s acceptable.
Q. I’ve not been insured for 3 years can you insure me?
A. We are unable to insure holiday homes where there has been such a substantial lapse in insurance cover.
Q. I have discovered woodworm damage at our French holiday home – can I claim?
A. As standard on most policies, woodworm (infestation) damage is not covered. Under the terms of our holiday homes policy it clearly states – What is NOT covered: Wear and tear or gradual deterioration, moth, vermin, infestation, corrosion, damp, wet or dry rot, mould or frost.
Q. I have a barn in the grounds of my residence, which I am converting into self-catering holiday units. The barn would have a rebuild value of £100,000 and the contents within them about £10,000. There are 2 units, so two separate families could stay at the same time.
Can you advise if I can take one policy for the total above, or do I have to split it in half and get cover for each unit at £50,000 or rebuild and £5,000 contents?
A. We can insure the building under one policy, noting the 2 units, assuming the values are split in equal proportions.
Q. We are looking for insurance which covers contents and public liability insurance for our holiday let that’s rented to holiday makers in summer, that subsequently reverts to a long term let in winter.
A. We can provide contents insurance (with an accidental damage option) and public liability cover for UK holiday homes that are holiday let. However, if you wish to change to long term lets in the winter we would have to insure both the buildings and contents, not just contents.
Q. We have a three bedroom bungalow with an attached 2 bedroom annexe. We are planning to let the annexe as a holiday home but our current house insurer is unable to accommodate this. What should we do?
A. Most standard house insurance policies won’t insure your annexe or your existing cover will become invalid if you sublet part of the building. This is often due to the increased liability risk of injury to ‘tennants’. We can insure both your main residence and your annexe for letting, under one policy. Please contact us to arrange cover as it’s not available online.
Q. I have just obtained an online quote for holiday let insurance. Could you confirm that this fully covers the property for letting out, via an agent, for holiday lets (1 to 2 weeks per tenant). The property is let for approx 35 weeks per year. We visit at other times and the agent visits during empty periods.
Could you also advise what the premium would be if we had an excess of £250 or £500 on the policy?
A. As standard, the policy covers both commercial holiday letting and use by family and friends.
To further reduce the premium the excess can be increased as follows;
£150 – 7.5% discount
£300 – 12.5%
£550 – 15%
If you require a higher excess please specify this in the comments box on your online application and we will re-quote.
Q. The wife and I are travelling to a holiday cottage this September. Would your holiday insurance cover cancellation due to the fact the car broke down en-route, or is it only for cancellation due to sickness, death etc. of family members?
I did look at a quote and it was for £20 is this figure per person?
A. Our holiday cancellation insurance policy does not cover cancellation due to vehicle breakdown/mechanical failure. The policy wording on our website clarifies what is covered.
Also, the premium is based on the cost of the holiday booking (all members of the holiday party), not per person. Full details are on our UK holiday insurance website.
Q. Please contact me regarding second home building insurance for a renovation property I have just inherited, that I plan to rent out.
A. We are unable to provide cover whilst properties are being renovated, left permanently empty, awaiting sale or under probate. However, we can provide cover once second homes are ready for occupancy/letting.
Q. I am Italian permanently living in Italy and I am about to buy a house with my husband in Cornwall, which I intend to use as a second home (maybe let for holiday rentals) for a year or two before settling down there. I have not been able to find any company willing to ensure the house because I intend to live there only for periods of time. Do you have any suitable insurance?
A. Unfortunately we can only insure UK residents. I suggest contacting a local broker near to the location of the second home.
What’s your question?
Cant find the answer to your question? Feel free to contact us, we are always ready to assist you with any questions you may have. You may also find the answer to your question on our FAQ page or blog.
