| When you own a holiday home, you will want to | | | | meters |
| make sure that you have the correct forms of | | | | Some United Kingdom insurers, subject to details of |
| insurance in force. If you buy the property in the | | | | the property construction, may be able to provide |
| United Kingdom, this is usually straight forward as | | | | additional cover beyond the limit of the DASK cover |
| most holiday home insurance policies, follow the | | | | (it is usually to ask for the building to be constructed |
| format of standard home insurance in that they offer | | | | with a steel concert carcass). |
| a similar range of perils. There may be one or two | | | | In Spain, the government insist that polices contains a |
| additions or restrictions, but the main, they are very | | | | "Consorcio" wording in accordance with the Spanish |
| similar. However, if you have bought a property | | | | law dated 16th December 1954 which created the |
| overseas, there may there are some difference. In | | | | Insurance Compensation Consortium (Consorcio de |
| the main, insurance polices have been developed | | | | compensation de seguros). This has subsequently |
| over the years out of necessity and sometimes as a | | | | been altered by Royal decree. The purpose of the |
| reaction to a certain event or series of event. In | | | | cover is to provide insurance against natural |
| overseas countries, many of their holiday home | | | | phenomena of an extraordinary kind (such as a flood, |
| polices have been moulded based on local events and | | | | earthquake, volcanic eruption, cyclonic storms, falling |
| needs. If you purchase a property abroad you will | | | | astral bodies or meteorites, terrorism, riots or |
| need to make sure that you have all the correct | | | | uprisings and deeds of the armed forces or the |
| forms of local covers. | | | | security forces in peace times). A sum insured is |
| If you buy your policy locally, you may find you have | | | | provided with a compulsory excess, which is usually |
| two problems: firstly, the document may not be in | | | | 10% of the loss. You are not allowed to insure the |
| English and you may find it difficult to obtain a grasp | | | | excess. |
| of all the technicalities, secondly, don't assume that | | | | In France, you need to effect natural catastrophe |
| overseas policies provided by foreign insurance | | | | cover in accordance with French Law 82-600 of 13th |
| companies will provide the same set of perils or limits | | | | July 1982. The purpose of the cover is to provide |
| of indemnity you would expect in the United | | | | insurance against pecuniary loss following an intense |
| Kingdom. It may be easier to source your overseas | | | | or abnormal event. As with Spain, there is a |
| policy from the United Kingdom with a policy written | | | | compulsory excess which you are not allowed to |
| in English and be able to deal with staff that speak | | | | insure against. This excess in France does vary and is |
| English. The ability to discuss matters in your own | | | | not fixed at 10%. |
| language is best exampled by having to make a claim | | | | As well as the above, certain countries have special |
| under a policy. This can be difficult at the best of | | | | requirements for the liability section of a holiday |
| time and often has to be conducted whilst you are | | | | home insurance policy, in Spain for example you will |
| away from the property. If you are dealing with | | | | need to cover your legal liability as per section 1902 |
| English speaking staff, you will find this to be | | | | and subsequents of the civil code and and also |
| invaluable. Some examples of local covers are as | | | | subsequents of the criminal code, these place a |
| follows: | | | | demand on you for loss or damage caused to third |
| In Turkey you must purchase a primary level of | | | | parties but limited to events that occur within the |
| earthquake cover from the government, this is | | | | holiday home. In France, you are obliged to insure for |
| known as DASK. DASK is a compulsory earthquake | | | | the "Tenants Risk", this covers the financial |
| insurance arranged by the Turkish Government. The | | | | consequences of the liability which you may incur as |
| level of cover will vary between areas and size of | | | | tenant of the property in respect of material damage |
| the property. Everyone who purchases a house in | | | | by fire or explosion under Articles 1382 to 1384 and |
| Turkey is required to have insurance which covers a | | | | 1732 to 1735 of the civil code. You are also required |
| percentage of damages in the event of an | | | | to provide cover for neighbours and third party risks |
| Earthquake. Some insurers now provide the basic | | | | under articles 1982-1384 of the civil code for any |
| DASK insurance from the UK, to obtain a quotation | | | | material damage to property of neighbours and third |
| you will need to provide some extra information such | | | | parties resulting from fire or explosion originating in |
| as: | | | | the premises insured or containing the insured |
| - A copy of the property title needs (known as | | | | property. |
| Tapu) | | | | Understanding "local insurance" is essential if you are |
| - The passport numbers of all persons named on the | | | | purchasing a holiday home overseas, these are just |
| Tapu | | | | some examples of the difference you may find |
| - The full address of the property | | | | between United Kingdom and overseas. |
| - The size of the property and its land in square | | | | |