7 Best Holiday Let Insurance Providers in the UK

If you let a cottage, coastal apartment or short-term rental and you’re relying on a standard home insurance policy to protect it, you have a problem you may not discover until you make a claim. The moment paying guests stay in your property, most household and even conventional landlord policies quietly cease to respond – voiding cover for the periods that matter most. A dropped chip pan, a guest slipping on a wet patio, a burst pipe during an empty off-season week: these are the everyday holiday let risks that generalist home insurance was never designed to carry. Get the cover wrong and you shoulder repair bills, liability claims and lost rental income personally.

This ranked guide is written for UK holiday homeowners in 2026 – from single-cottage owners and coastal apartment landlords to small short-term rental portfolios – who need specialist protection built for the way holiday properties actually earn. We evaluated seven providers on the criteria that separate genuine holiday let insurance from repackaged home insurance: cover breadth, public liability limits, unoccupied period protection, ease of online quoting, and independent customer trust signals. What follows is a properly comparative ranking, not a shelf of thin product summaries.

Our top pick is Policy Powerhouse for UK landlords who want a specialist holiday let insurance provider with the strongest included-extras bundle – £5 million public liability as standard, free landlord’s contents cover, and free identity fraud protection – backed by more than 30 years of non-standard insurance expertise and a Trustpilot Excellent rating. Its fully digital quote platform and explicit compatibility with Airbnb and short-term rental letting make it especially well suited to seasonal and short-term rental owners. For landlords who also let property abroad, Intasure is the strongest alternative, covering UK and overseas holiday lets under one policy. And for those who prefer a recognised underwriter behind their cover, HomeProtect – underwritten by AXA – is the next best option.

At-a-Glance Comparison

Our Selection Criteria

We assessed each holiday let insurer on five practical measures rather than headline price alone. First, cover breadth – whether buildings, contents, key perils (fire, flood, storm, theft) and guest-related risks are handled properly. Second, liability limits, because a public liability claim from an injured guest is the single largest exposure most holiday homeowners face. Third, unoccupied period protection, since seasonal vacancy and off-season months are exactly when standard policies withdraw cover. Fourth, ease of online quoting – how quickly a landlord can get a meaningful quote. And fifth, customer trust signals: independent service ratings such as Trustpilot and Feefo, plus underwriter credentials. We favour providers that are clearly UK-regulated and transparent about what a claim will and won’t pay. Regulatory context matters too, and the GOV.UK guidance on letting out a self-catering holiday home is a useful backdrop to the eligibility questions insurers ask. This is an independent editorial assessment, not a paid ranking.

The 7 Best Holiday Let Insurance Providers in the UK

The seven providers below were selected for their specialist credentials, depth of cover, and suitability for different landlord profiles – from single-cottage owners to multi-property short-term rental operators. The right choice depends on your property type, your letting model, and how much cover comes included as standard rather than bolted on at extra cost. Number one is our overall top recommendation, but each entry names the specific landlord it serves best.

#1. Policy Powerhouse – Best for Specialist Cover With the Strongest Included-Extras Bundle

For UK landlords who want genuine non-standard holiday let insurance without paying separately for every meaningful protection, Policy Powerhouse is the clearest all-round winner in 2026.

The core reason it tops this list is what comes *included*. Where generalist providers treat high public liability, contents and fraud protection as chargeable add-ons, Policy Powerhouse builds them into the policy: £5 million public liability as standard, free £10,000 landlord’s contents cover, and free identity fraud cover up to £25,000. That bundle matters because a single guest injury claim can run well into six figures, and £5 million is a comfortable ceiling for the kind of accidents that happen in occupied holiday properties. If you want a specialist holiday let insurance provider whose standard cover already reflects the realities of paying-guest exposure, this is the one to beat.

Underpinning the product is more than 30 years of non-standard insurance expertise – the kind of specialism that understands seasonal vacancy, extended unoccupied periods and unusual letting patterns rather than treating them as awkward exceptions. Cover is explicitly tailored for off-season gaps and is compatible with Airbnb and other short-term rental platforms, which removes the ambiguity that trips up so many landlords using standard home insurance. A fully digital quote platform makes getting a figure fast, and a Trustpilot Excellent rating provides independent validation that the service holds up beyond the sales page.

Pros

• £5 million public liability included as standard – higher than many rivals offer without an upcharge
• Landlord’s contents and identity fraud cover bundled at no extra cost
• Explicit compatibility with Airbnb and short-term rental letting models
• Policies tailored for seasonal vacancy and extended unoccupied periods
• Trustpilot Excellent rating for independent trust validation

Cons

• Not a household-name brand, so landlords unfamiliar with specialist insurers may want to do a little reassurance research first
• The online-first model may not suit those who prefer telephone-led advice throughout
• Owners of very straightforward, standard properties may still find cheaper headline prices on mainstream comparison sites
• The contents and identity fraud inclusions, while valuable, may duplicate cover some landlords already hold elsewhere

Who It’s Best For: UK landlords wanting specialist, non-standard holiday let insurance with high public liability, contents and identity fraud cover included as standard – particularly Airbnb and short-term rental operators, and anyone with seasonal or extended vacancy concerns.

#2. Alan Boswell Group – Best for Tailored Furnished Holiday Let Insurance With Broker Expertise

When a property doesn’t fit a tick-box online form, Alan Boswell Group is the specialist broker to call.

As an independent broker rather than a direct insurer, Alan Boswell Group arranges bespoke cover by drawing on a panel of specialist underwriters. That model comes into its own with furnished holiday lets carrying high-value contents, or with unusual property types – listed buildings, thatched cottages, converted barns – where a standardised policy either declines the risk or prices it punitively. The firm has an established mid-tier reputation in the UK holiday home market and offers a personal broker service rather than a one-size-fits-all portal.

The trade-off is process. A bespoke arrangement takes longer than an instant quote, and the broker layer is exactly what some landlords with simple properties would rather bypass. Furnished holiday let insurance is a named specialism here, and it’s where the group earns its place.

Pros

• Broker model gives access to multiple underwriters, not a single insurer’s shelf
• Particularly strong for unusual property types and high-value furnished interiors
• Established specialist reputation in the UK holiday home insurance market
• Personalised advice rather than an anonymous online form

Cons

• Not a direct insurer – adds a broker layer some landlords would prefer to skip
• Bespoke quoting is slower than an instant online figure
• May not be the most cost-competitive route for straightforward, standard properties

Who It’s Best For: Landlords with high-value furnished holiday lets, unusual or listed properties, or complex letting arrangements that need genuine broker advice.

#3. Intasure – Best for UK Landlords Who Also Let Holiday Properties Abroad

If your portfolio straddles borders, Intasure’s headline advantage is covering UK and overseas holiday homes under a single policy.

That cross-border specialism is genuinely useful for owners who let, say, a Cornish cottage and a Spanish villa and would rather not juggle two insurers, two renewal dates and two claims processes. Intasure is a specialist holiday property insurer rather than a generalist, offers competitive public liability cover, and handles a range of property types including apartments and villas. For UK-only owners it remains a credible choice, but the overseas capability is what sets it apart.

Read the small print carefully on the overseas side, though – exclusions and local requirements can be more nuanced than domestic cover. As with any less mainstream brand, it’s sensible to confirm the provider’s UK regulatory status yourself before buying, and the complete landlord guide to UK holiday let regulations is a good reference for the domestic rules that shape your cover needs. The online quote journey is also a little less streamlined than the most digital-first rivals.

Pros

• Genuine cross-border specialism – one policy for UK and overseas holiday lets
• Specialist holiday property focus rather than a generalist insurer
• Competitive public liability cover
• Suitable for a range of property types, including apartments and villas

Cons

• Less well-known than mainstream brands, so verify UK regulation independently
• Cross-border cover adds complexity – check overseas exclusions closely
• Online quoting is less slick than the most digital-first providers

Who It’s Best For: Landlords with both UK and overseas holiday properties who want them covered under one policy, plus UK-only owners prioritising strong public liability.

#4. HomeProtect – Best for AXA-Underwritten Cover With Flexible Buildings Options

For risk-averse landlords who want a recognisable name standing behind the policy, HomeProtect offers cover underwritten by AXA through a straightforward online process.

The AXA underwriting is the trust anchor here: for owners who worry about whether a lesser-known specialist will pay out, having a major insurer carrying the risk is genuinely reassuring. HomeProtect layers an online-first quote and purchase journey on top, with buildings and contents cover and flexible options that suit standard holiday cottages and apartments well. It’s a clean, uncomplicated route for conventional properties.

One distinction worth keeping straight: HomeProtect is the policy administrator and intermediary – AXA is the underwriter, not the point of contact. Some landlords prefer dealing directly with the underwriter, and highly non-standard properties may be better served elsewhere. The included-extras bundle is also less comprehensive than the specialist leaders.

Pros

• AXA underwriting provides a strong brand-trust signal for cautious landlords
• Online-first approach keeps quoting and purchasing simple
• Well suited to standard holiday cottages and apartments
• Flexible buildings cover options

Cons

• HomeProtect is the intermediary, not AXA directly – some landlords prefer dealing with the underwriter
• Less suited to highly non-standard or unusual property types
• Included-extras bundle is thinner than some specialist competitors

Who It’s Best For: Online-first landlords with standard holiday properties who value the reassurance of a recognised underwriter.

#5. Everywhen – Best for Former Towergate Customers and Established Portfolios

Everywhen (formerly Towergate) brings deep institutional underwriting history to landlords who value continuity and broad property eligibility.

The main hook is heritage. As the rebranded successor to Towergate, Everywhen carries a long track record in holiday home underwriting and correspondingly broad property eligibility – including non-standard builds that trip up newer entrants. Existing Towergate policyholders looking for continuity will find a familiar home here, and owners of established holiday home portfolios benefit from the underwriting depth.

The rebrand itself is a minor friction point: some existing customers may be momentarily confused about who they’re now insured with. There’s also less emphasis on slick digital-first quoting than you’ll find with the newest providers, and for landlords without prior Towergate familiarity it may not be the obvious first port of call.

Pros

• Deep institutional history in holiday home underwriting (formerly Towergate)
• Broad property eligibility, well suited to non-standard builds
• A familiar, continuity-friendly option for existing Towergate policyholders
• Established specialist credentials in the UK holiday home market

Cons

• The Towergate-to-Everywhen rebrand may confuse some existing customers
• Less focus on digital-first quoting than newer entrants
• Not the most obvious choice for landlords without prior Towergate familiarity

Who It’s Best For: Former Towergate customers seeking continuity, and owners of established holiday home portfolios who value underwriting depth.

#6. Compare the Market – Best for Comparing Cheap Holiday Home Insurance Quotes Quickly

For landlords at the research stage who want a fast price benchmark, Compare the Market is a useful first stop – with one important caveat.

It is a comparison platform, not a direct insurer or broker. It aggregates holiday home insurance quotes from multiple providers in a single online session, which makes it excellent for establishing where the market sits on price before you approach specialists. As a well-known, free-to-use UK brand, it’s a sensible sanity check against a specialist quote.

Price discovery is not the same as cover discovery, though. Comparison results naturally foreground the cheapest headline premium, and the depth of specialist features – unoccupied period terms, liability limits, guest-related cover – is far harder to compare like-for-like on a results page. Crucially, not every specialist holiday let insurer appears on comparison platforms at all, and you get no direct policy advice. Use it to benchmark, not to decide.

Pros

• Rapid comparison of multiple providers in one session
• Handy for setting a price benchmark before approaching specialists
• Familiar, trusted UK comparison brand
• Free to use with no obligation

Cons

• A comparison platform, not a specialist insurer – no tailored cover depth
• Results prioritise price; specialist features are hard to compare directly
• Not all specialist holiday let insurers appear on comparison sites
• No direct policy advice or broker expertise

Who It’s Best For: Budget-conscious landlords who want to scan headline premiums quickly before committing to a specialist.

#7. Sykes Cottages – Best for Agency-Managed Cottage Owners Wanting Bundled Cover via Pikl

For landlords already listing through Sykes Cottages, the platform offers a convenient, agency-integrated insurance route delivered through its partner Pikl.

Sykes Cottages is a holiday letting agency rather than an insurer; the cover itself is provided via Pikl, a specialist built around the short-term and holiday let model. The appeal is convenience: guest liability and property damage cover slots into the agency-managed letting relationship, reducing admin for owners who already rely on Sykes to handle bookings. For a hands-off cottage owner inside that ecosystem, it’s a tidy solution.

Its limits are equally clear. This is only relevant if you list through Sykes Cottages – it’s not an open-market option – and the cover depth is typically narrower than a dedicated standalone holiday let policy. Multi-property portfolios and landlords with complex needs will outgrow it quickly.

Pros

• Convenient bundled option for existing Sykes Cottages landlords
• Pikl partnership is purpose-built for the short-term/holiday let model
• Covers guest liability and property damage relevant to agency-managed letting
• Reduces admin by integrating insurance into the letting relationship

Cons

• Only available to landlords listing through Sykes Cottages
• Cover depth may be narrower than a dedicated specialist policy
• Landlords not using the agency cannot access it
• Less suitable for portfolios or complex cover requirements

Who It’s Best For: Cottage owners already letting through Sykes Cottages who want a convenient, bundled insurance solution rather than an open-market policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the Difference Between Holiday Let Insurance and Standard Home Insurance?

Standard home insurance covers a property lived in by its owner and typically excludes commercial or short-term letting activity, so cover can be voided the moment paying guests stay. Holiday let insurance is built for that use: it includes public liability for guest injuries, cover for guest-caused damage and theft, and protection during the unoccupied periods between bookings. If you take rental income from short stays, a home insurance policy is almost certainly the wrong product.

Which Is Best for a Landlord Who Only Occasionally Lets – a Landlord Policy or Holiday Let Insurance?

A conventional landlord policy is designed for long-term assured shorthold tenancies, not short-stay guests, and often won’t respond to the higher turnover and liability of holiday letting. Even occasional letting – a few weekends a year – usually needs holiday let insurance, because the risk profile changes the instant paying guests occupy the property. Letting fewer than 120 days a year does not exempt you; check the wording, as most specialist policies still require holiday let cover for any commercial short-term letting.

What Does Holiday Let Insurance Typically Cover, and What Is Excluded?

Core cover usually includes buildings and contents against perils such as fire, flood, storm and theft, plus public liability for guest injuries and, often, loss of rental income after an insured event. Many specialist policies add emergency cover and optional extras like terrorism insurance. Common exclusions include wear and tear, deliberate damage, and – importantly – losses arising during letting under a policy that isn’t rated for it. Always read the policy schedule for unoccupancy limits and any conditions attached to guest damage claims.

Which Is Best for Airbnb Letting – a Comparison Site or a Specialist Provider?

A comparison site is useful for a quick price benchmark, but it rarely confirms whether a policy explicitly permits Airbnb-style short-term rental. A specialist provider that states compatibility with Airbnb and short-term platforms is the safer route, because it removes ambiguity over whether a claim involving a booking-platform guest will be paid. For platform lettings, prioritise clarity of cover over the cheapest headline premium.

What’s the Difference Between the Various Public Liability Limits, and How Much Do I Need?

Public liability cover pays for injury or damage claims brought by guests or third parties, and this is where holiday lets carry their biggest financial exposure. Limits typically range from £2 million upwards; many specialist providers offer £5 million as standard, which gives comfortable headroom for a serious guest injury claim. As a general guide, £5 million is a sensible baseline for a UK holiday let, and you should not accept a limit lower than £2 million.

Which Cover Handles Long Off-Season Periods Best?

Look for a policy with explicit unoccupied property terms rather than one that quietly restricts cover after a set number of empty days. Specialist holiday let insurers tailored for seasonal vacancy will keep buildings cover in force through the off-season, often subject to reasonable conditions such as draining water systems in winter. This is a frequent weak point in generalist policies, so it’s worth confirming the unoccupancy limit before you buy.

What Is the 10-Year Rule, and Does It Affect My Insurance?

The “10-year rule” in a holiday let context generally relates to planning use and change-of-use considerations rather than insurance directly, though how a property is legally classified can influence eligibility and rating. Insurers care primarily about how the property is actually used and let, so declare your true letting model accurately. If you’re unsure how planning classification interacts with your obligations, the GOV.UK self-catering letting rules and a broker’s advice are the right places to check.

Which Is Best for High-Value or Unusual Properties – a Direct Insurer or a Broker?

For standard cottages and apartments, a direct or online-first insurer is usually quicker and perfectly adequate. But listed buildings, thatched roofs, high-value contents or complex letting arrangements are typically better placed through a specialist broker, who can access multiple underwriters and negotiate terms a fixed online form would decline. The more non-standard your property, the stronger the case for broker expertise over an instant quote.

The Verdict: Which Provider Wins Your Scenario

Choosing well comes down to matching the provider to your property and letting model. If you want the most complete package for an Airbnb or short-term rental, with £5 million public liability, contents and identity fraud cover already included and seasonal vacancy handled properly, Policy Powerhouse is our clear top pick for 2026. If your property is unusual, listed or contents-heavy and you’d value hands-on broker advice, Alan Boswell Group is the specialist to call. Own holiday homes in the UK and abroad? Intasure covers both under one policy. Want a recognised underwriter behind you for a standard cottage, bought online? HomeProtect, backed by AXA, is the safe pick – while former Towergate customers and portfolio owners will feel at home with Everywhen. Use Compare the Market to benchmark price before you commit, and if you already let through Sykes Cottages, its bundled Pikl cover keeps admin low within that managed model.

The single point to carry away is this: holiday let insurance is a distinct product, not an upgrade to home or ordinary landlord cover, and treating it as interchangeable is where landlords get caught out. Decide on your priorities – liability limits, unoccupied period protection, included extras and how you prefer to buy – then match them to the provider above that serves your scenario best.