How Much Does Holiday Home Insurance Cost?
Last Updated on February 13, 2026 by admin
Holiday Home Insurance premiums are influenced by a combination of property, location, usage, and risk factors. Because second homes are often unoccupied for long periods, insurers assess them a bit differently from main residences. Here are the key factors that usually have the biggest impact:
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Location. Location.
You may have heard from estate agents and the media that owning a second home in a desirable or popular location increases the price of the property. When it comes to insurance however, where your building is situated can also bump up the price of your insurance premium.
Seaside or coastal holiday homes can generate healthy holiday let income and be lovely to stay at. But if your property is on a cliffside or beachside, it may be prone to subsidence, storm damage or flooding. If this is the case, it could lead to higher insurance costs because your insurer will take these factors into account.
Arranging your Holiday Home Insurance with an experienced broker like Boshers can potentially help you avoid sky-high premiums because of long-standing professional relationships with holiday home insurers.
Call: 01237 429444
Or email: info@boshers.co.uk
1. Is your property accessible?
If your property is perched on the side of a hard-to-reach remote area, or accessible only by off-road tracks, it may be more challenging to repair than a holiday home in a more central or accessible location. Remote and rugged locations can also be harder for emergency response such as the fire services to reach. Both aspects can result in higher holiday home insurance quotes.
2. Is your holiday home left unoccupied?
If your holiday home is left empty for periods of time between your visits, it could be more vulnerable to theft or undetected water damage such as burst pipes or leaks. Similarly, if you only let your holiday home to paying guests during peak seasons, and it is unoccupied for the remainder of the year, you will be required to declare how long the property is left empty for. Again, talking to a broker like Boshers can give you a thorough understanding of how long your property can be left unoccupied without your insurance costs increasing.
3. Do you use your property as a holiday rental?
Letting your holiday home to paying guests can be a great source of income. Putting the right level of financial protection in place, is however, important. If you employ people such as maintenance staff, gardeners, cleaners or receptionists, you will be required by UK law to have Employers’ Liability Insurance which Boshers can provide. This policy can cover legal fees and costs should an employee of yours become ill or get injured because of work-related activities. Without Employers’ Liability Insurance, you would have to pay for hefty compensation claims and legal costs out of your own pocket.
Public Liability Insurance is also a crucial part of insuring a holiday let. This insurance coverage covers you for any liability claims made against you should a member of the public suffer injury or illness due to your holiday let operations. For example, if a guest slips or trips on a wet floor or uneven exterior area at your property and sues you for damage, Public Liability Insurance can pay for related legal fees.
It is strongly advised that you let us or your insurer know that you have paying or non-paying guests staying at your holiday home, because you will need Holiday Let Insurance to protect you, which Boshers have specialist knowledge of. You don’t need to own and run a holiday let complex to arrange your insurance through us. You can own one holiday let and we’ll be able to help.
If you don’t let us or your insurer know that you are letting your property to paying guests, your policy might not cover you in the event of an insurance claim. Our team of qualified advisers will do their best to get cost-effective rates on your Holiday Let Insurance cost.
4. Property Type and Construction
Listed and thatched properties can sometimes be more costly to insure. This is because non -standard construction houses or apartments can potentially have a higher rebuild cost compared to standard-construction or more modern homes. If you own a larger holiday home, this too can increase the cost of the premium due to the higher cost of repairs and rebuild.
What can you do to potentially lower the price of your premium?
Insurers price holiday home insurance based on how likely a claim is and how expensive it would be if something went wrong. Reducing risk through good security, regular checks, and appropriate use of your property is often the most effective way to keep premiums under control.
Security measures
Installing alarms, CCTV, reinforced locks, and even shutters can help reduce premiums. Professionally monitored alarm systems or regular property checks are often viewed favourably by insurers.
Your claims history
A history of insurance claims on the property can push premiums higher. Repeated water damage or theft claims can especially influence the cost of your insurance. Taking care of maintenance if damage to your property is easily repairable and not claiming for smaller issues, can stand you in good stead with your insurer.
Level of insurance coverage chosen
Insuring both your Buildings and Contents, rather than just the structure, increases the premium, however if your holiday home has furniture or electrical appliances, or expensive contents, insuring for both Buildings and Contents is strongly recommended.
Accidental damage and loss of rental income can also raise costs but broaden protection.
Arranging a higher voluntary excess (the amount you pay before your insurance coverage comes into effect), can go towards reducing the premium.
Maintenance and Risk Management
Insurers prefer properties that are well maintained and frequently checked. Taking preventative measures such as drain-down systems, smart leak detectors, or heating left on low in winter can positively affect pricing.
OVERSEAS HOLIDAY HOME INSURANCE
Overseas Holiday Home Insurance premiums are influenced by many of the same factors as UK holiday homes coverage, but with additional complexity due to distance, legal systems, and local risk conditions. Insurers look closely at both risk likelihood and claim severity. If you are a UK resident and own a holiday home abroad, Boshers can arrange insurance coverage tailored to your property type, location, and usage.
For a FREE insurance quotation or to find out more about how we can help you protect your home away from home, contact us today.
Call: 01237 429444
Or email: info@boshers.co.uk
Boshers® Insurance Services is a trading style of Lloyd & Whyte® Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 306077). Registered in England No. 03686765. Registered office: Affinity House, Bindon Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 6AA. VAT Registration No. 477 7248 00. Calls may be recorded for use in quality management, training and customer support.
