Outdoor items need insurance too
Nearly a third (30%) of households have spent more money on their gardens since the lockdowns began than ever before, new research has found.
But while some outdoor spaces are now brimming over with new furniture, sheds, barbecues, toys, gym equipment and plants, many have not taken steps to insure them.
Some 32% of those who had bought garden furniture in the past year had not insured these purchases yet, Moneysupermarket found.
Only around one in 10 (11%) of those surveyed had sought to insure their recently purchased outdoor items.
This is despite a quarter (25%) of people reporting they had experienced garden thefts in the past, with DIY equipment, bikes, furniture, barbecues and scooters being the items most likely to be stolen.
The comparison website calculated that the average garden contains £1,262-worth of goods.
This figure is likely to be climbing even more now, with more than half (56%) of people expecting to spend more on their gardens over the summer.
“Summer is the time of year when we start to spend more and more time in our gardens,” says Kate Devine, a home insurance expert at Moneysupermarket. “If you’ve spent money on your garden contents, it’s important that you keep your valuables safe.
“Bikes, barbecues, tools and furniture – a whole range of items commonly kept in gardens can be of significant value. Thieves know this, so they’re targeting sheds and garden storage units. As a result, it’s really important you have the right protection in place.”
So, if you’ve been splashing a bit more cash on your garden or outdoor space, and want to make sure items are properly insured, what should you do?
“You should start by checking your existing buildings and contents insurance policies, to see whether goods stored in your garden are covered,” Devine advises.
“While many standard buildings and contents insurance policies usually include a certain amount of cover for garden items, you could be at risk of leaving your goods uninsured if you don’t read the small-print carefully.
“You should also check your home insurance policy to see if you could get a cheaper premium with another provider.
“If you haven’t switched for a while, this is likely going to be the case. It takes minutes to switch to a competitive policy and you could save up to 46% on your premiums in doing so.”