Second Home Insurance

Yes, you can add cover for home emergencies to your property insurance policy.

• Three levels of home emergency cover, starting with emergency repairs to the primary heating system at your property
• Extend to include emergency repairs to your drainage and water services, securing broken windows and doors - and dealing with pest infestations
• Access to a 24-hour helpline and network of reliable UK tradespeople

Please talk to your Towergate adviser for details.

We specialise in providing cover where other insurance providers may not. If you've had previous claims, we will still consider your case whether or not you've been rejected by other insurers. This is also handled by our Colchester team and details can be found on our contact page. In all cases, the more information you are able to provide regarding your previous claims, the better.

Homes which are at risk of flood are often a little trickier to insure. We have policies which will cater for flood in some of the harder to cover areas and can often refer cases to our insurers to try and find you a policy. You can read more on insurance, provided by our team in Colchester, for flood risk areas here.

Running a business from your home often means you have slightly different need to a standard home. See our home business insurance webpage for more details.

If you would prefer to spread the cost of your RIB insurance policy, you have the option of setting up a Direct Debit to pay your premium bimonthly instalments through our preferred provider, Premium Credit Limited (PCL).

To find out more about PCL and direct debit payments, select Direct Debit.

To understand more about how PCL work together with Towergate, please read our Regulatory Information.

We have provided a summary of the key features of the policy, above. For details of the terms and conditions applicable, please refer to the insurance product information document and policy wording, which are available during the quotation process.

Second home insurance provides specialised coverage for properties that are not a primary residence. It differs from standard home insurance due to specific risks like unoccupancy, seasonal use or rental considerations. It is crucial to protect second homes and occasional-use residences.

Towergate's cover is designed to address the unique risks of second homes, including unoccupancy, weather damage and liability concerns.

Standard home insurance may not cover second homes and highlight common risks, such as unoccupancy, theft, and weather-related damage.

Second home insurance policies cover both the structure of the property and its contents, protecting against common risks.

Second home policies protect you against common property damages caused by fire, extreme weather, and ground movement.

Second home policies offered through Towergate recognise the most common claims and therefore includes malicious damage as standard, for protection against issues caused by trespassers, burglars or vandals.

This covers unintentional damage, such as broken windows or spilled liquids on carpets, which might not be included in a standard policy. 

Common exclusions to second home insurance include general wear and tear, neglect, rental use, and extended unoccupancy without notifying the insurer.

No - if your second home is rented to tenants, a landlord insurance policy is required.

No, UK-based second home insurance typically does not cover overseas properties. You may be able to take out holiday home insurance, or else you will need to look for suitable local insurance.

Second home insurance policies can include cover for periods of vacancy, but there may be conditions. For example, you might need to leave the heating on or drain the water system. You will also need to arrange regular property inspections by a competent person to ensure the property is OK. We’ll explain what applies to your property and location.

If you are planning on renting your property, you will need to let us know so that we can update your policy. Optional extended cover for accidental damage is also available for rental guests, subject to policy conditions. Speak to one of our friendly advisors to find out more.

We can try to find coverage for these circumstances.