Moneysupermarket.com advises all those thinking of dusting off the barbeque set and sprucing up their gardens to ensure their outdoor items are adequately protected.
Research shows that home contents policies offer varying levels of protection for garden items. For example the maximum protection for items kept outdoors is £250 with Churchill Insurance while M&S Money offer unlimited cover. When considering how much protection will be needed for your garden treasures, it is important not to forget big ticket items such as patio heaters, top of the range barbecues and lawnmowers you might have stored in sheds and outbuildings. These need to be kept as secure as they would be in the home and providers offer differing levels of cover for these items from between £2,000 with Budget Insurance to unlimited protection with policies from Halifax or M&S Money.
Julie Owens, head of home insurance at moneysupermarket.com said: “When thinking about home insurance cover, many people may not take into account their garden contents. Whether you have a number of treasured garden gnomes, or have splashed out on a high tech gas barbecue, the value of these items can easily rack up.
“Most home insurance policies already have garden cover included, but consider the level of cover provided to make sure you’re not underinsured. Landscaped gardens and costly furniture items are prime targets for thieves, as are decadent statues and expensive plants, so check the small print to determine exactly what is covered.
“It is also worth looking at the policy details to see if there is a single item limit within the terms and conditions, especially if you have particularly expensive items such as patio heaters. If it does not state a limit, it may be worth contacting your insurer to notify them of any items that are of value to ensure that you could make a claim for it should the need arise.
“Additionally, for those who keep items such as bikes or gym equipment in their outdoor sheds, out-houses or other storage areas, these will also require cover so it’s important to keep these as secure as possible to ensure your insurance remains valid.”
Moneysupermarket.com’s top ten tips to keep your garden and valuables safe:
– Insurers are specific about what is and isn’t covered as part of contents and outbuildings. Read the small print and ensure your open space is fully insured.
– Don’t let thieves have easy access to your garden; ensure all gates and fences are in a good state of repair, and kept locked and bolted.
– Make sure your shed has a good lock.
– Do not leave expensive tools or valuable items, such as bicycles, lying in your garden. Keep them locked away at night because if they are not properly secured, they might not be covered.
– Make sure damage to walls, gates and fences are covered under your buildings insurance policy. Not all insurers provide this as standard.
– Install a security light as a deterrent to any would-be thief.
– Keep receipts for items purchased for the garden in case of future claims. It may also be worth declaring any single expensive items, such as a lawnmower, that may come above the single item limit on your cover if there is one.
– If you have lots of expensive items in your garden then a normal policy may not cover you. Instead, you might be better opting for a high net-worth policy.
– If you have a swimming pool make sure you tell your insurer as this may not be covered automatically.
– Make sure you know what is excluded in your cover. Most will not cover you for loss or damage if your home is unoccupied.
Source : Moneysupermarket.com Press Release
