Your Second Home Well Insured
A second home – whether it is a holiday home for personal use or an investment property for rental – requires specific insurance. Standard home insurance often offers no coverage for rental or long-term vacancy.
As the owner of a second home you have at least one building insurance and a homeowner's liability insurance necessary. When renting, it is crucial to report the correct destination, otherwise you risk not being insured.
We distinguish two main categories: holiday homes for recreational personal use (possibly with partial rental) and Investment properties for permanent rental as an investment. Each category has different insurance requirements.
Choose Your Type of Second Home
Holiday homeRecreational personal use
For your holiday home, chalet or apartment that you mainly use yourself. Rental to friends, family or via Airbnb possible for up to 26 weeks a year. Also insured abroad.
- ✓ Own use + partial rental
- ✓ Netherlands & 12+ EU countries
- ✓ Swimming pool & outbuildings
investment propertyPermanent rental
For homes that you rent permanently as an investment. Business terms with higher liability coverage. Suitable for private investors and real estate portfolios.
- ✓ Permanent rental covered
- ✓ Liability €2.5 million
- ✓ Package discount possible
What Insurance Do You Need?
building insurance
Covers damage to the property due to fire, storm, water and burglary. Mandatory for mortgage.
Liability O.G.
Covers damage to third parties due to defects in your home. Up to €2.5 million coverage.
Contents insurance
For furnished rental or your own belongings in the holiday home.
Glass insurance
Breakage of windows, doors and windows due to all causes. Quick recovery.
Environmental insurance
Soil and water pollution, asbestos in the event of fire, remediation costs.
legal aid
Legal assistance with rental disputes, liability claims and conflicts.
🔑 Rental: Report The Correct Destination!
A standard building insurance policy often does NOT cover rental. Always report the correct destination:
- ⚠️ Report destination: Indicate whether you rent the property (recreational, vacant or permanent rental)
- ⚠️ Risk of no coverage: Wrong destination = no payment in case of damage
- ✓ Holiday rental: Up to 26 weeks/year via holiday home insurance
- ✓ Airbnb/Booking: Possibly with private rental insurance
- ✓ Permanent rental: Commercial buildings insurance required
- ✓ Private 1-2 homes: Sometimes co-insure in your own housing package
💡 Tip: For >300 days of rental per year you need business insurance.
🛡️ Homeowner Liability
As the owner, you are liable for damage caused by defects in your home:
- ⚠️ Stairs break off: Tenant or visitor sustains injury
- ⚠️ Roof tile blows off: Damage to a third party's car or person
- ⚠️ Fire spreads: Damage to neighboring property due to fire in your home
- ⚠️ Slippery sidewalk: Visitor slips and breaks arm
- ✓ Private (1-2 properties): Often covered in your AVP
- ✓ Investment (3+ properties): Separate AVB O.G. needed up to €2.5 million
NB: This is NOT the same insurance as your private liability insurance (AVP)!
🏢 Apartment in VvE?
For an apartment, the homeowners' association often arranges the building insurance, but please note:
- ✓ VvE building insurance: Covers common areas and building
- ⚠️ Only common: Not your own improvements or liability
- ⚠️ Check coverage: Ask for a copy of the homeowners' association policy, has it been recently appraised?
- ✓ Owner's interest: Insure your own improvements (new kitchen, bathroom)
- ✓ Liability separately: VvE only covers common areas
- ✓ Contents themselves: For furnished rentals, take out your own contents insurance
⏰ Vacancy: Are You Covered?
When vacancy, other conditions or restrictions often apply:
- → Holiday home: Vacancy covered as standard, higher deductible (€2,500)
- → Regular buildings: Often a maximum of 60 days of vacancy is allowed
- → Vacancy insurance: Special policy for long-term vacant properties
- → Additional requirements: Electrical inspection, fire safety measures
- → Vandalism limited: Often not covered when vacant
Tip: Report vacancies immediately to your insurer to maintain coverage.
💰 Premium indication for second home
The premium depends on value, type, destination and rental:
| Type of insurance | Coverage | Premium/year |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday home NL | Building + liability | €200 - €600 |
| Holiday home abroad | Building + liability | €300 - €900 |
| Investment property rental | Buildings + liability | €300 - €1,200 |
| Liability O.G. | €1 - €2.5 million | €100 - €400 |
| Contents (furnished) | €15,000 - €50,000 | €100 - €300 |
| Glass insurance | All windows | €50 - €150 |
* Premiums are indicative. Exact premium depends on reconstruction value, type of construction, location and destination. Package discount up to 10% for multiple insurance policies.
⚠️ Common Mistakes With Second Homes
Avoid being uninsured:
- ✗ Rental not reported: Standard buildings often do not cover rental
- ✗ VvE = everything covered: No, only communal, not your deductibles
- ✗ AVP covers homeowner: Not always! Check whether rental is included in the insurance
- ✗ Vacancy not reported: Can lead to rejection damage
- ✗ Underinsured: Reconstruction value not current = discount on benefit
- ✗ No rental contract: When renting without a contract, there is often no coverage
📊 Holiday home vs. Investment property
| Feature | Holiday home | investment property |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Own recreational use | Permanent rental |
| Rental possible | Up to 26 weeks/year | 365 days/year |
| Abroad | ✓ 12+ EU countries | ✗ Netherlands only |
| liability | €500,000 | €1 - €2.5 million |
| Type of insurance | Private | commercial |
| Vacancy | ✓ Covered as standard | Separate conditions |
| Swimming pool/outbuildings | ✓ Co-insured | Co-insure separately |
| Package discount | Limited | Up to 10% |
Specialized Insurers
We work with insurers who specialize in second homes:
💡 Tips for Your Second Home
- ✓ Report correct destination: Recreational, rental or vacant – crucial for coverage
- ✓ Check homeowners' association policy: What is covered? Request a copy and check valuation
- ✓ Eliminate liability: Separate homeowner's insurance, not through AVP
- ✓ Good security: SKG** locks, motion detectors – can reduce premium
- ✓ Track maintenance: Damage due to overdue maintenance is not covered
- ✓ Rental contract always: Written or digital, without a contract there is often no cover
- ✓ Laat regelmatig kijken: Voorkom langdurig onopgemerkte schade
- ✓ Compare packages: Combine insurance policies for package discounts
🔧 Prevention & Maintenance
Prevent damage and maintain your coverage with good maintenance:
- ✓ Electrical inspection: Periodic inspection, especially on older properties
- ✓ Smoke detectors: Early detection limits fire damage
- ✓ SKG** locks: Certified burglary protection
- ✓ Close the main tap: Prevent frost damage when vacant
- ✓ Cleaning gutters: Prevent water damage from clogged drains
- ✓ Fire safety: Fire extinguishers, escape routes for room rental
