Holiday Home EPCs: What Every Property Owner Needs to Know
March 23, 2026
Owning a holiday home is a brilliant investment, but it comes with its fair share of admin. One question that often trips owners up is:
Short term letting isn’t quite standard home use, and it’s not the same as running a full-time holiday let either. If you rent out your home occasionally, host guests for a few nights, or use platforms for extra income, you need cover that reflects how your property is actually used.
With decades of experience in non-standard insurance, we specialise in situations that don’t fit the mould, providing flexible cover designed around real-life use, not rigid criteria. Our smart, user-friendly platform allows you to quote and buy online in minutes. Plus, if your situation is a little more complex, our experienced team is ready to step in and help.
We work with providers experienced in non-standard construction.
Policies designed around your property’s specific risks.
Options available if you’ve been refused elsewhere.
In most cases, no. Standard home insurance is designed for private residential use, not for properties with paying guests coming and going. Even occasional hosting can fall outside what a typical policy allows.
Why hosting can invalidate standard cover
When you introduce paying guests, the risk profile changes. Increased footfall, different occupants, and shorter stays all affect how insurers assess your property. If this isn’t disclosed, it could invalidate your policy or lead to issues if you need to claim.
Platform ‘host guarantees’ vs proper insurance
Some platforms offer host guarantees or protection schemes, but these are not a replacement for insurance. They often come with limitations, exclusions, and no regulatory backing. While a proper insurance policy gives you clearer, more reliable protection when something goes wrong.
Short term letting covers a range of setups where a property is used for temporary, paid stays rather than long-term residential living.
Your main home with paying guests
This includes homeowners who occasionally rent out a spare room or their entire property while they’re away. Even infrequent hosting can require specialist cover to ensure you’re properly protected.
Mixed occupancy
Some properties are used both as a main residence and for short stays throughout the year. This hybrid use doesn’t always fit standard insurance models, which is why tailored cover is important.
Nightly/weekly stays and short tenancies under 6 months
Short term lets typically involve guests staying for a few nights or weeks, rather than long-term tenants. Our policies are designed to reflect this higher turnover and the different risks that come with it.
What this is not
This isn’t designed for full-time holiday let businesses or dedicated self-catering properties. If that’s your setup, you’ll need a more specific policy, which you can find over on our holiday let insurance page.
Short term let insurance is designed for people using their property in more flexible, part-time ways.
Homeowners who host
If you live in your property and occasionally rent it out – either a room or the whole home – this type of cover helps bridge the gap between standard insurance and commercial use.
Tenants who host
If you’re renting and subletting on a short term basis (with permission), you may still need specialist insurance. Requirements can vary, so it’s important to ensure everything is declared correctly.
Landlords with short stays
Landlords offering serviced accommodation or short-stay rentals need cover that reflects frequent guest turnover rather than traditional long-term tenancy arrangements.
**Conditions: We will beat or match any price for equivalent cover, or we will give your money back (within 14 days of the cover starting)
Cover depends on the policy you choose, but our short term let insurance is designed to reflect the realities of hosting guests.
Buildings cover
Buildings cover protects the structure of your property, including permanent fixtures, against risks like fire, flood, or storm damage. This remains essential whether you live in the property full-time or host guests occasionally.
Contents cover
Contents cover protects your belongings within the property, such as furniture and appliances used by guests. This is particularly important when different guests are using the space regularly.
Guest related incidents and accidental damage
Our policies can include protection for accidental damage caused by guests, helping to cover repair or replacement costs, which is an area where standard home insurance often falls short.
Liability cover
Liability cover protects you if a guest is injured or their belongings are damaged during their stay and you’re found legally responsible.
Short term letting introduces different risks compared to standard home use, which is why our policies are designed differently.
Theft and malicious damage by guests/occupants
Our policies can include protection against theft or deliberate damage caused by guests, something many standard insurers exclude or restrict.
Gaps between bookings and unoccupied periods
Periods without guests can leave your property unoccupied, which may affect standard cover. Our policies take this into account, ensuring you’re protected even between stays*.
*Terms and conditions may apply
To provide the right level of cover, we’ll need a clear picture of how your property is used. This ensures your policy fits your setup properly from the outset.
How often you host
We’ll ask how frequently you rent out your property, as occasional hosting carries different risks compared to regular bookings.
Whole home vs room
Whether you let out a single room or the entire property affects the type of cover required, so this is an important detail.
Guest type
Information about your typical guests – such as holidaymakers, contractors, or business travellers – helps us assess the level of risk and provide suitable cover.
Security and safety basics
We may also ask about basic measures like locks, smoke alarms, or other safety features to make sure your property meets insurer requirements.
Forget unnecessary jargon, we’re all about clear advice and support to help you get the right cover in place quickly and confidently..
Request a quote today to secure appropriate cover for your property and avoid gaps in protection.
Yes, you should always inform your insurer if you’re hosting guests, even occasionally. Failing to disclose this could affect your cover or lead to issues if you need to make a claim.
In some cases, yes – but you’ll usually need permission from your landlord and the right insurance in place. Requirements can vary, so it’s important to check both your tenancy agreement and policy terms.
There’s no single definition, but short term letting generally refers to stays lasting from a few nights up to several weeks or months, typically under six months.
Our policies can include cover for accidental or malicious damage caused by guests. This isn’t always included as standard, so it’s important to check your policy details.
Owning a holiday home is a brilliant investment, but it comes with its fair share of admin. One question that often trips owners up is:
Letting your holiday home can be one of the most rewarding ways to generate extra income, offset running costs, and get more value out of
Holiday Home Insurance: What You’ll Really Pay and Why November 13, 2025 Buying a holiday home feels like a place to escape the 9-to-5, gather
Turning your home into a holiday let can be a great way to boost your income and make the most of a property you’re not
Holiday lets remain one of the most resilient and profitable property investments in the UK. Whether you’re a seasoned landlord or a first-time investor, choosing
Whether you’re between tenants, mid-renovation, or dealing with probate, an empty property can quickly become a liability. Many property owners assume their standard home insurance
Peace of mind that your investment is safe in just a few easy clicks.
