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Thousands of British, Irish, German, and Scandinavian families own a holiday home in Spain — on the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Balearics, or the Canary Islands. But insuring a property that sits empty for months at a time is different from insuring your main residence.
Standard Spanish home insurance policies typically include a vacancy clause — a condition stating the property must not be left unoccupied for more than 30, 60, or 90 consecutive days (depending on the policy). If your property is empty beyond this limit and you make a claim, the insurer may reduce or refuse the payout.
For holiday homes used only a few weeks per year, this is a critical issue. We source policies specifically designed for extended vacancy, covering periods of 6 months or more without occupancy.
A burst pipe in an unoccupied property can go undetected for weeks, causing catastrophic damage. Turn off the water at the stopcock when you leave, or install a smart water leak detector that alerts your phone.
Empty properties are targets. Villas in quieter areas are particularly vulnerable. Ensure your policy covers theft with force and check whether security requirements (alarm, grilles, reinforced door) are conditions of your cover.
Covered automatically by the Consorcio for extraordinary events. But standard storm damage (a broken tile from wind, tree falling) is covered by your regular policy — make sure it is not excluded for unoccupied properties.
If you rent your property on Airbnb, Booking.com, or to friends, your standard home insurance likely does NOT cover commercial letting activity. You need either:
These cover guest liability (a guest is injured on the property), accidental damage by guests, loss of rental income if the property becomes uninhabitable, and public liability for rental activity.
Many policies offer — or you can add — a property management service that arranges emergency repairs while you are away. Combined with a local keyholder, this means problems can be dealt with quickly rather than waiting until your next visit.
Own a holiday home in Spain? Contact us for a free quote — we specialise in policies for non-resident property owners and handle everything in English.
See also: Home Insurance Spain | Contents Insurance
