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Posted on 16 Oct 2008

Many people buying a holiday home or second home in the UK or in Europe are offered holiday home insurance cover by an insurer, broker, their foreign agent or notary. Of course it's too easy not to say "No", but the cover offered may not be suitable due to the special insurance requirements needed for a holiday home or second home.

With the risks of owning a second home abroad or in the UK being that much greater than your main home or residence, there is a real call for a second home insurance policy that is written in easy to comprehend English, that pays specific attention to the particular requirements for holiday homes, and that also has wide coverage.

Your holiday property insurance should also ensure that all local taxes on overseas properties are included within the premium. Buildings and Contents cover should be flexible so that owners don't end up paying for cover that they don't need. Not every property has a swimming pool. Certain features are considered to be of vital importance, and therefore overseas home insurance cover for loss of use, legal liability for domestic staff, public liability and accidental damage to domestic supplies should be included as standard.

The true value of any insurance is however only fully appreciated when a claim is made. You should be able to speak directly to experienced English staff that will provide assistance and be fully responsible for liaising with the overseas loss adjusters. Holiday home owners who own a property overseas and have overseas holiday home insurance should be spared the difficulties of discussing their claim with a foreign agent via a continental telephone call.

You might think that the best thing to go for is cheap holiday home insurance, but you really have to ask yourself whether you're really that well covered with the cheapest policy? Although low premium rates are often of importance, the overseas house insurance cover should be simple to comprehend, offer a high level of security and in the event of a claim a satisfactory result.

Using an insurance agent who doesn't specialize in, or fully comprehend the requirements of your holiday home or let property, you may find that you don't have adequate cover to fully protect your holiday home. it's needed that you get the correct property insurance to suit the specialized requirements needed for your holiday home. You must get specialist overseas holiday property insurance. And you must get insurance for buildings and contents designed exclusively for properties used as holiday homes or let for holiday use.

As an owner of a holiday home abroad, it's vital that you fully comprehend the extent and limitations of your insurance policy. Do you've cover for legal liability for domestic employees? What restrictions are in place when letting and un-occupancy etc? And most important of all what do you do in the event of a claim?

If your holiday home insurance policy has been placed through an insurance agent in the following countries: UK, Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Cyprus Greece, Ireland, Malta, Monaco or Andorra , it's more likely that they've not informed you and that you simply don't know.

David Ball has many years experience advising people on comprehensive holiday home insurance and second home insurance.