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Standard cover vs holiday home insurance

Most standard home insurance policies limit the number of consecutive days a property can remain unoccupied. This typically falls between 30 and 60 days, making standard home insurance cover unsuitable for most people with a holiday home.

Holiday home insurance doesn’t impose these same restrictions, and factors in the additional risks associated with long periods of unoccupancy, such as break-ins, vandalism, and damage that can go unnoticed for weeks or even months.

When do you need holiday home insurance?

Holiday home insurance is not a legal requirement, but it is strongly recommended if you own a second property and want financial protection if something goes wrong. If you have a mortgage, your lender will usually require buildings insurance as a condition of your loan.

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What does holiday home insurance cover?

Specific cover will vary depending on your policy and provider, but holiday home insurance usually protects both the building and contents within the property. A standard buildings and contents policy will cover:

Additional cover and optional extras

Insurance for holiday homes may also include the following – either as standard, or as optional extras:

  • Loss of rent cover: Compensates you for loss of rental income following an insured event such as fire or flooding.

  • Alternative accommodation: Covers temporary accommodation costs if your holiday home becomes uninhabitable.

  • Emergency assistance: Provides support for urgent issues such as burst pipes or boiler problems.

  • Liability cover: Helps protect you if someone is injured or suffers damage connected to your property.

  • Accidental damage: Covers damage from spills, breakages, or clumsy guests.

  • Legal expenses: Can help with costs arising from certain disputes involving guests, neighbours, or property-related issues.

What’s usually not covered?

You might require landlord insurance for long-term guests.

Your insurer won’t cover the cost of fixing poorly done work. You’ll have to pursue this directly with the tradesperson.

Policies tend to cover sudden, unexpected events, so normal damage and degradation over time isn’t covered.

Hen or stag parties or other high-risk events may not be approved by your insurer. Always check your policy wording to understand exactly what is and what is not covered.

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Annual premiums can vary between insurers, so it’s always worth comparing quotes and coverage levels before choosing a policy.

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Holiday home insurance for rental properties

When you rent out your holiday home, you need more comprehensive coverage to protect against additional risks. It’s important that you inform your insurer when you start renting to avoid invalidating your policy.

What cover do you need if you rent to guests?

If you rent out your holiday home for short stints, standard cover isn’t designed to cover the risks that paying guests bring. Instead, you might need a type of insurance that has rental or liability add-ons that protect you against:

  • Guest injuries and property loss

  • Fire caused by a guest

  • Accidental damage

  • Loss of income if your property is undergoing repairs and you can’t rent it out

If you use Airbnb to host guests at your property, you’ll likely need Airbnb insurance.

Public liability insurance: This is vital if you plan to rent out your holiday home to paying guests. This add-on will protect against accidental damage and help cover legal expenses if someone is injured on your property.

Renting to tenants long term?

If you move from taking on short term guests to long-term tenants, then it could be wise to switch from holiday home to landlord insurance to better protect your investment against damage and legal liability. 

Landlord insurance does not cover the tenants’ personal possessions – they are responsible for securing their own renters insurance.

How much does holiday home insurance cost?

The cost of holiday home insurance in Ireland depends on factors such as the property’s age, location, and the level of cover you opt for. In our July 2026 research, the quotes we received for a three-bedroom house in Waterford were around €320 per year.

While you might expect holiday home insurance to cost more than standard cover, our research shows that isn’t always the case.

Detached house, Co. Waterford

BUILT

1978

ROOMS

3 bed, 2 bath

ALARM

Monitored

CLAIMS

Claims-free

  • Buildings cover: €290,000

  • Contents cover: €25,000

Note: We provided identical property and customer details to compare quotes on a like-for-like basis.

How to reduce the cost of your premium

Looking to reduce your premium? Here are some steps you can take to bring costs down:

  • Pay annually: By paying in monthly instalments you’ll typically be charged interest, so pay in one lump sum if you can.

  • Improve security: Installing a monitored alarm system could not only save you money in the long run, but it might also entitle you to a discount on your premium.

  • Bundle your cover: Some insurers offer discounts to those who combine buildings and contents cover under one policy.

  • Shop around: Compare policies to find the best cover for your home, at the best price.

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Unoccupancy and holiday home insurance in Ireland

Many holiday homes are left empty for weeks or months at a time, so it’s important to check your insurer’s vacancy limits to determine whether you need unoccupied home insurance. 

You should also check the conditions of your policy before leaving your holiday home unattended for an extended period as your insurer may require certain steps to be taken while the property is empty, such as maintaining heating during winter, turning off the water supply, or arranging regular inspections.

Who offers unoccupied holiday home insurance in Ireland?

Allianz Ireland

Aviva

AXA

RedClick

Zurich

123.ie

FAQs

Holiday home insurance and second home insurance are generally the same thing in Ireland and the two terms are often used interchangeably. What changes the cover you need is rental status: you may require additional cover if you rent out your second property to paying guests.

Making a claim is similar to claiming on standard home insurance. You should:

  • Contact your insurer as soon as possible.
  • Take steps to prevent further damage.
  • Keep evidence such as photographs, receipts, and reports.
  • Follow any policy conditions, such as security requirements or winter precautions.

Your insurer will then assess the claim and advise on the next steps.

Yes, it’s possible to get holiday home cover for a property located abroad, particularly within the European Union. Not all providers cover this and the level of coverage and the premium are determined largely by location and property type.

No, it is not a legal requirement, but if you have a mortgage, your lender will typically insist on buildings cover.

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