Home Insurance for Holiday Homes in Costa Cálida: What Every British Expat Needs to Know

You've bought your dream place in Los Alcázares or Mazarrón. The sun, the sea, the lifestyle – everything's perfect. Until someone mentions home insurance, and suddenly you're comparing policies that look nothing like what you had back in the UK.

Here's the thing: your British holiday home insurance doesn't cover you here. And standard Spanish home insurance might leave you exposed in ways you hadn't considered. Let's sort this out, shall we?

Why Your UK Policy Won't Work in Spain

This catches people out more than you'd think. Your UK insurer will tell you straight away: they don't cover properties in Spain. Full stop.

The building regulations are different, the legal system works differently, and the risks aren't the same. You need a Spanish policy that actually understands what happens when your holiday home sits empty for weeks or months at a time.

That's where things get interesting – and where most standard policies in Spain fall short.

What Makes Holiday Homes Different

Insurance companies view holiday homes differently because, frankly, they are different. Your place in Costa Cálida isn't your primary residence. You're not there every day to spot that slow leak or notice someone's been round the back.

Empty properties face specific risks:

• Water damage from unnoticed leaks can do serious damage over weeks

• Break-ins are more common when it's obvious nobody's home

• Storm damage might not get reported for ages

• Maintenance issues escalate faster without regular checks
  

That's why you need coverage that specifically accounts for these risks. Not just standard home insurance with your fingers crossed.

The Four Things Your Policy Absolutely Must Cover

1. Contents Insurance When the Property's Unoccupied

Standard policies often exclude this, or they limit coverage to 30 or 60 days of vacancy. If you're only using your place for summer holidays and a few weeks at Christmas, that doesn't cut it.

2. Buildings Insurance for the Entire Structure

This includes:

• Exterior walls and roof

• Swimming pools

• Permanent fixtures

• Structural elements
  

Your community fees might include some building insurance, but check carefully – it's often just the communal areas, not your actual property.

3. Liability Coverage

If someone injures themselves on your property, even when you're not there, you're potentially liable. This is huge in Spain, where legal costs can mount quickly.

4. Legal Protection

Spanish property law is complex, especially for non-residents. Having legal support included in your policy isn't just nice to have – it can save you thousands in fees if issues arise.

The Empty Property Problem (And How to Solve It)

Here's where it gets properly specific to expats. Most Spanish home insurance policies restrict coverage if your property is empty for more than 30 to 60 consecutive days. For holiday homes, that's impractical.

What you actually need:

• Policies designed for regularly unoccupied properties

• No penalties for long absences

• Coverage that works with how you actually use your home

• Protection during winter months when you're back in the UK
  

These policies cost a bit more – typically 15% to 30% more than standard cover – but they actually protect you when you need it.

At Allianz, our holiday home policies are built around how expats actually use their properties. Empty for three months over winter? Covered. Only visiting for August and Christmas? Covered.

What It Actually Costs: Real Numbers

Let's talk numbers, because nobody else seems to.

Holiday home insurance in Murcia typically costs:

• €350 to €800 per year for a standard two-bedroom apartment or villa

• Depends on location, property value, and coverage level
  

Factors that affect your premium:

• Coastal properties cost more than inland ones

• Properties with pools cost 10-15% more

• Gated communities qualify for 10-15% security discounts

• Empty property coverage adds 15-30% to the base premium
  

Here's the bit that surprises people: it's often cheaper than equivalent UK coverage, even accounting for the empty property premium. Spanish insurance generally costs less because property values are lower and claims tend to be smaller.

The Spanish System: Buildings vs Contents

This confuses everyone at first. In Spain, you'll often hear "continente y contenido" – continent and content, or buildings and contents.

Continente (Buildings Insurance) Covers:

• Walls, roof, floors

• Windows and doors

• Fitted kitchens and bathrooms

• Permanent fixtures

• Rule of thumb: If it's attached and you can't take it with you, it's continente
  

Contenido (Contents Insurance) Covers:

• Furniture and electronics

• Clothes and personal items

• Artwork and valuables

• Kitchen equipment

• Rule of thumb: If you'd pack it in a van when moving, it's contenido
  

You can buy them separately or together. We recommend both, but if you're working with a tight budget, buildings insurance is the non-negotiable one. You can replace a sofa; you can't easily replace a roof.

Community Insurance: What It Covers (And What It Doesn't)

If you're in an apartment block or urbanisation, your community fees include insurance. Don't assume this covers everything.

Community Insurance Typically Covers:

• Communal areas

• Exterior structure of buildings

• Swimming pools and gardens

• Liability in communal spaces
  

Community Insurance Does NOT Cover:

• The interior of your property

• Your contents

• Liability for incidents inside your unit
  

You still need your own policy. Think of community insurance as covering everything up to your front door. Everything inside is on you.

English-Speaking Support Makes a Massive Difference

When you need to make a claim – and eventually, everyone does – you don't want to be struggling with translation apps and technical Spanish insurance terminology.

What English-speaking service actually means:

• Claims handled entirely in English

• Advisors who understand your questions

• No Google Translate awkwardness

• Straightforward conversations, no confusion
  

We handle everything in English. Claims, questions, policy changes, renewals – all in plain English. You'll speak with advisors who understand exactly what you're asking because they've helped hundreds of British expats through the same situations.

Making a Claim: What Actually Happens

Right, so something's gone wrong. Maybe there's been a break-in, or storm damage, or that slow leak became a fast leak. What now?

The process is simple:

1. You call us – that's it, nothing complicated

2. We arrange assessors – usually within 24 hours

3. We deal with contractors – you don't have to find them

4. We manage repairs – from start to finish

5. We process payments – directly to suppliers when possible
   

Your job is to let us know what happened and provide reasonable documentation. Our job is everything else.

For urgent issues like flooding or security problems, we aim to have someone on-site even faster than 24 hours.

The Documents You'll Need

Getting insurance set up requires a few specific documents. Have these ready and the whole process takes about 20 minutes:

Required documents:

• Your NIE number (foreigners' identification number)

• Property deeds or purchase contract

• Catastral reference (unique property code – found on IBI tax bills)

• Details of any existing mortgages secured against the property
  

That's genuinely it. No medical questions, no extensive forms, no proof of claims history from the UK. Just straightforward property information.

Special Considerations for Coastal Properties

Properties near the coast – and that includes most of the popular expat areas in Murcia – face specific risks that affect insurance.

Coastal-specific risks:

• Salt corrosion on metal fixtures and window frames

• Storm risk increases (especially autumn Mediterranean storms)

• Flooding risk in low-lying areas near Mar Menor

• Higher exposure to wind damage
  

Make sure your policy explicitly covers storm and flood damage. Some basic policies exclude or limit this coverage, which can leave you badly exposed.

When Your Property's Being Rented Out

Thinking about letting your holiday home when you're not using it? Good call financially, but it changes your insurance needs.

Holiday let insurance covers:

• Liability when guests are in the property

• Accidental damage caused by renters

• Loss of rental income if property becomes uninhabitable

• Short-term rental specific risks
  

Important: Costs increase by roughly 20% to 40% compared to standard holiday home cover, but failing to declare rental use can void your entire policy. Don't risk it – just get the right cover from the start.

Getting Set Up

We know you've got better things to do than spend ages sorting out insurance. That's why we've made this simple.

Three ways to get started:

1. Call us on +34 653 97 88 97

2. Email us at PA642540@allianzmed.es

3. Use the quote form on our website
   

What happens next:

• Tell us about your property

• We'll give you clear pricing within 24 hours

• Choose what works for you

• Policy active within 48 hours

• All documents in English
  

Then you can get back to enjoying your place in the sun, knowing it's properly protected.

Your holiday home in Costa Cálida represents a significant investment and probably features heavily in your plans for the future. Getting the insurance right isn't exciting, but it's important.

We can help you do it properly, without fuss, and in English.

Get in touch. Let's make sure you're covered.