Home insurance with garden cover
Whether you have a hot tub, a patio heater and a ride-on mower or just a pot plant and a table, replacing the contents of your garden could be more expensive than you think. So, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re insured – here’s how.
Whether you have a hot tub, a patio heater and a ride-on mower or just a pot plant and a table, replacing the contents of your garden could be more expensive than you think. So, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re insured – here’s how.
60-second summaryWant to know the basics of garden insurance? Here are the key points:
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Does home insurance cover my garden?
Most home insurance policies provide some level of cover for your garden as standard. So, outdoor structures and belongings like your shed, garden furniture and tools could all be protected against theft, loss and damage.
You’ll need to check your policy documents carefully to see exactly what’s covered though – and what the payout limits are.
Garden cover with buildings insurance
Buildings insurance will usually cover the permanent fixtures in your garden, including:
- Garages, outbuildings and sheds
- Greenhouses and summerhouses
- Swimming pools and hot tubs fixed into the ground
- Garden fences, gates and external walls
- Patios and decking
- Driveways and footpaths
- Septic tanks and central heating oil or gas tanks.
Garden cover with contents insurance
A home contents policy will usually cover the moveable items you keep in your garden and outbuildings. These could include:
- Garden furniture
- Lawnmowers and tools
- Barbecues and patio heaters
- Ornaments, statues and plant pots
- Plants and shrubs
- Play equipment, including slides, swings and trampolines.
What’s not covered by garden insurance?
There are always exclusions to insurance policies. These can vary, but garden insurance typically won’t cover you for:
- Indoor items and valuables left outside, such as laptops
- Contents stolen from unlocked outbuildings
- Damage caused by pets, birds, insects or vermin
- Smoke damage or damage from bonfires
- Subsidence damage unless your home is damaged at the same time
- General wear and tear.
Most insurance providers also won’t pay out for belongings that exceed the single item limit. This is the maximum amount you can claim for any one item, typically around £1,500. So, if you have an expensive hot tub or ride-on lawnmower, for example, it might be worth insuring them separately.
How much garden cover can I get?
There’s usually a limit on how much you can claim for garden items under your policy. This limit may also be spread between a number of items in outbuildings, such as your shed, greenhouse and garage.
The overall limit can often be quite low because of the higher risk of theft or damage, so you may want to take out extra cover.
When you think about all the pots, plants, furniture and tools you’ve got, you’ve probably invested far more in your garden than you realise. These items can be easy pickings for an opportunistic thief and could cost more than you think to replace.
Does home insurance cover items left in my garden?
Some policies may only cover outdoor items which are locked away in a shed or garage overnight. Others will provide cover for garden furniture and pots that can't be locked away, but bicycles left outdoors typically won’t be covered unless they’re secured to a permanent fixture.
To avoid any confusion, you should read the policy wording carefully before taking out cover. If you leave your garden furniture out all the time (like many people in summer) then you need to make sure you’re protected.
What do I need to think about when comparing garden insurance?
- Check there aren’t any gaps in your insurance cover – is the contents cover high enough for everything you own? Take into consideration if you have mature or valuable plants that would be costly to replace – you may want to make sure they’re insured.
- If you buy expensive garden equipment such as furniture or lawnmowers, keep the receipts – this will likely make any claims easier to process.
- Check your policy for conditions and exclusions. If you have valuable items like patio heaters and pizza ovens, do you have to keep them locked up at night?
- If your policy pays out on a new for old basis, you’ll need to have enough cover to buy replacements at current prices.
How can I make my garden more secure?
- Always lock back gates and side doors
- Install security lights
- Keep expensive items (BBQs etc.) in a locked shed or garage overnight
- Gravel driveways to make it harder for burglars to go undetected.
Read your policy to make sure you have the right level of cover to protect your outbuildings and garden equipment.
Looking to compare buildings and contents insurance quotes? You can get the right home insurance at the right price for you with our comparison service.
Frequently asked questions
Does home insurance cover fences?
Yes, your fences and gates should be covered under buildings insurance, as they form part of the structure of the property and its boundaries.
However, it’s unlikely that your fences and gates will be covered against storm damage.
What valuables might be vulnerable to theft?
In general, smaller items of higher value tend to be the easiest targets for would-be thieves because they can carry them out from your garden – power tools, for example.
But, from hot tubs to bird tables, pizza ovens to parasols, our gardens are full of items that would cost a lot to replace. Even flagstone paths are sometimes stolen as the stone is expensive.
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Anna McEntee – Home, travel and pet insurance expert
Anna’s all about delivering fantastic insurance products at a great price. Value is the most important thing for Anna, as she cuts through the jargon and finds what’s most important and worth your hard-earned money.