Building insurance recommendation in UK?

[Joy1944]

Hi all, just wondering if anyone can recommend a UK insurer for buildings and contents on my holiday let?

[Rebecca]

Hi @Joy1944 👋

I'll tag some hosts from the UK to see if they can share who they're insured by: @Wendy-May0, @Livia120, @C197, @MaryJane8 and @Jane4673. Can you offer Joy any recommendations for her building insurance? 

[Joy1944]

Thanks Rebecca!  I'd be grateful for any thoughts x

[Livia120]

Hi @Joy1944 , Wendy (above) suggested a reliable broker so that would be a good start.

… also check with your current insurer if they can offer short-term letting or holiday-let extension, or a full switch to a holiday-let / Airbnb-friendly policy  

Some insurers will amend your policy, so it’s worth asking… and always compare online. 

…you also have Airbnb’s AirCover with each stay. ✨

[Rebecca]

Hi @Joy1944 - just checking back in! Did you find an insurer in the end? 

[Wendy-May0 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Joy1944 , I used Simply Business for my holiday let insurance. They are one of the largest brokers in the UK and are quite helpful because they allow you to compare a few different specialist insurers in one go to see which cover fits your buildings and contents needs best.

Since they are a broker, they work with a panel of providers (like AXA, Ageas, or Zurich) to find a policy tailored to holiday lets. Here is why they are a solid choice:

• Specialist Cover: They include risks that standard home insurance usually excludes, such as public liability (essential if a guest is injured), malicious damage by guests, and loss of rental income if the property becomes uninhabitable.

• Unoccupancy Protection: Most standard policies fail if a property is empty for more than 30 days, but they find policies that protect you during seasonal gaps.

• Efficiency: You can usually get your quote and documents on the same day, which is great if you need to get a mortgage or licence sorted quickly.

Just keep in mind that since they are a middleman, you might deal with the actual insurer (like Aviva) directly 

@Joy1944 

[Rebecca]

How did you get on @Joy1944? Did you you have any luck? 😊