Insuring a beach apartment or holiday let in Spain

Short answer: a beach apartment isn’t your main home, and if you rent it to tourists, insurers see it as something else entirely. You must declare its real use and choose cover designed for it. Otherwise you may hit exclusions exactly when something goes wrong.

Second homes: what changes

A home you only use a few months a year carries its own risks:

Empty periods: higher burglary risk, and a leak can go unnoticed for weeks.
Damp and salt air on the coast.
Storms and, on the seafront, storm surges.

That’s why there are policies designed for second homes. The key is declaring it as one: if you insure it as your main home, some cover may not apply.

Holiday lets: a different world

If you rent the apartment to tourists, most home policies don’t cover that activity. You’ll need cover such as:

Liability towards guests: if someone is injured in your apartment.
Damage caused by guests to the property and furniture.
Loss of rental income if a claim forces you to cancel bookings.
Theft cover adapted to guests coming and going.

Also remember that tourist rentals in Spain must comply with regional and local rules and be registered. Requirements change, so check them before letting.

Quick checklist before you sign

Is it a second home or a holiday let? Declare it exactly.
How many months a year is it empty?
Is it seafront or ground floor?
What furniture and equipment is there, and what’s it worth?
Do you already have enough liability cover?

The Consorcio applies here too

Damage from extraordinary events like floods or storm surges is paid by the Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros to people with an active policy. Another reason never to leave a second home uninsured.

In short

Insure your beach apartment for how you actually use it: second home or holiday let. Declaring it correctly is the difference between being covered or not.

Tell me where the apartment is and how you use it, and I’ll prepare suitable options in English, whether it’s in Gandia, Cullera, Sagunto or anywhere on the coast.

Frequently asked questions

Does standard home insurance work for a summer apartment?

It can if you declare it as a second home and the policy allows for empty periods. Otherwise some cover, like theft, may be limited.

What if I rent it to tourists?

Holiday letting is a different use and many home policies don’t cover it. You need a specific policy or cover, including liability towards guests.

Do I need a licence to rent to tourists?

Tourist rentals must comply with regional and local rules and be registered. Requirements change often, so check them before you start renting.

What about storms on the seafront?

Damage from extraordinary events such as storm surges is paid by the Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros, provided you have an active policy.