Your Holiday Home in the UK Well Insured
It United Kingdom offers a unique combination of rich history, breathtaking nature and charming cottages. From the Scottish Highlands with misty valleys and legendary lochs to the Cornish's rugged coastline with picturesque fishing ports.
The Netherlands has strong ties with the UK and many Dutch people own one cottage in England, An holiday home in Wales or a historic building in Scotland. A Dutch holiday home insurance policy offers all-risk coverage with service in your own language.
After Brexit As an EU citizen you can still freely buy property in the UK. Your insurance remains unchanged. However, the British climate is unpredictable: storms, flooding and subsidence are real risks that must be covered.
Where is your holiday home located?
England
From Cornwall's coastline to the Lake District's lakes. Cottages, country houses and historic homes.
Scotland
Highlands, lochs, castles and whisky. More affordable than England with spectacular nature.
Wales
Mystical landscapes, castles and rugged coastlines. Affordable and authentic.
🏰 More Regions in the UK
- 🏙️ London: Average £556,000, 20% more expensive, urban apartments
- 🌳 Peak District: Hilly landscape, walking, affordable
- 🏖️ Dorset & Jurassic Coast: UNESCO heritage, beaches
- 🍀 Northern Ireland: Avg. £193,000, fastest rising prices (+7%)
- ⛰️ Yorkshire Dales: Rolling hills, villages, pubs
What is insured?
Fire & Explosion
Damage due to fire, explosion, lightning, smoke. Including fireplaces.
Storm & Flooding
Damage from storms, hail, floods. Essential in the British climate.
Water damage
Leakage, pipe break, escape of water. Important for older homes.
Burglary & Theft
Theft with signs of forced entry and vandalism by third parties.
Grant
Subsidence, heave and landslip. Important for older British homes.
liability
Homeownership and damage to third parties up to €500,000.
🌧️ British Climate: Storm & Flooding Risks
The unpredictable British weather poses specific risks that need to be covered:
- 🌪️ Storm: Frequent heavy storms, especially in autumn and winter
- 🌊 Flooding: Flood risk in low-lying areas and near rivers
- ❄️ Frost: Escape of water through frozen pipes in winter
- 🏚️ Grant: Subsidence in older homes, especially in clay soil
- 🌨️ Snow: Weight of snow can cause roof damage
- 📍 Risk areas: Coastal regions, river valleys, low-lying areas
💡 Premiums may be higher in flood-prone areas. Check flood risk maps!
🇬🇧 Brexit: What Does This Mean for Your Insurance?
The UK left the EU on January 31, 2020. This will impact owners:
- ✓ Insurance: Your Dutch policy remains valid
- ✓ Buying real estate: As an EU citizen you can freely buy real estate
- ✓ No right of residence: Real estate does not give an automatic right of residence
- ⚠️ Stay >6 months: Visa required for long-term stay
- ⚠️ 90 day rule: Max 90 days per 180 days without a visa
- 💷 Currency risk: Payment in GBP, exchange rate fluctuations
🇳🇱 vs 🇬🇧 Dutch or British Insurance?
🇳🇱 Dutch Policy
- ✓ All-risk coverage possible
- ✓ Dutch service, no language barrier
- ✓ Storm & flooding covered
- ✓ Vacancy covered as standard
- ✓ Rental also insured
- ✓ Return cover (travel costs)
🇬🇧 British Policy
- → Home insurance locally
- → Communication English
- → Buildings & contents separately
- → Often required with mortgage
- → Holiday let insurance separately
- → Flood Re scheme available
💡 For a second home, a Dutch policy offers advantages: service in your own language and all-risk coverage.
🔑 Rentals: Holiday Let in the UK
Do you rent your cottage to holiday guests? These are the rules:
- ✓ Rental up to 26 weeks/year: Insured in combination with personal use
- ✓ Platforms: Airbnb, Booking.com, VRBO also insured
- ✓ Guest liability: Damage to guests covered up to €500,000
- ✓ Loss of rent: In case of uninhabitability due to damage
- ⚠️ Tax: Rental income taxed in UK (20-45%)
- ⚠️ Council tax: Double council tax on second homes in some areas
⭐ All Risk Coverage: Maximum Protection
With all-risk coverage you are insured against all unforeseen damage from outside:
- ✓ Basic coverage: Fire, explosion, lightning, storm, hail
- ✓ Extensive: + Burglary, theft, vandalism, water damage, glass breakage
- ✓ All risk: + All unforeseen external damage
- ✓ Grant: Subsidence, heave and landslip are also insured
🏡 Typical British Homes
What type of property do you have in the UK? All types are insurable:
- 🏠 Cottage: Traditional, rural, often with a fireplace
- 🏢 Flat/Apartment: Urban, London or other cities
- 🏘️ Terraced House: Terraced house, typically British
- 🏡 Detached/Semi-detached: Detached or semi-detached
- 🏰 Listed building: Monumental building, special requirements
💰 Premium indication Holiday home UK
| Type of property | Reconstruction value | Premium/month |
|---|---|---|
| Cottage Wales/Scotland | €150,000 - €250,000 | €18 - €35 |
| Cottage England | €200,000 - €350,000 | €25 - €42 |
| Larger home in Cornwall | €300,000 - €450,000 | €35 - €55 |
| London apartment | €400,000+ | €45 - €70+ |
| Insure household contents | €15,000 - €50,000 | +€8 - €18 |
* All-risk is approximately 20% more expensive than basic coverage. Flood-prone areas may be more expensive.
⚠️ Not Covered / Exclusions
- ✗ Permanent residence: Only as a second home (not main residence)
- ✗ Poor maintenance: Damage due to overdue maintenance
- ✗ Vandalism by tenant: Damage by tenants themselves
- ✗ Commercial rental: More than 26 weeks/year without personal use
- ✗ Long-term vacancy: Check conditions (often max 30-90 days)
💡 Tips For Your Holiday Home in the UK
- ✓ Flood risk Check: Check gov.uk flood maps for your location
- ✓ Winterized: Have pipes drained when vacant in winter
- ✓ Property maAfterger: Consider local management for regular checks
- ✓ Security: Good locks and alarms reduce premiums
- ✓ Listed Building: Special insurance required for monuments
- ✓ Current reconstruction value: Construction costs in the UK are rising
✈️ Extra Coverage
- ✓ Return coverage: Travel and accommodation costs will be reimbursed in the event of an emergency
- ✓ Accommodation costs: If the home is uninhabitable upon arrival
- ✓ Lost keys: Costs for replacement locks will be reimbursed
- ✓ Art objects: Up to €5,000 co-insured
- ✓ Foundation: The foundation of your house is also insured
- ✓ Loss of rent: In case of uninhabitability due to damage
