Does my home insurance policy cover my garden?

Most home insurance policies will provide some level of cover for your garden. Something you’ll be pleased to know if you’re fortunate enough to have outdoor space since the cost of your shed, garden furniture, tools and plants can really add up if anything was to happen to them.

Since lockdown, for many people the way we see and value our gardens has changed, and it’s become a more important part of the home. The average total spend per adult was £670 on their gardens in 2021[i], with the total value of sales of gardening products in the UK set to reach over £6.5 billion by 2025, up from £4.9 billion in 2020.[ii]

Watch out, thief!

This increased spending on gardens can mean that there are a lot more valuable items ripe for stealing by thieves so ensuring you’re covered by adequate home insurance is important.

Adding it up

If you’re unsure how much the items in your garden are worth, you can use our contents calculator to help you tot up the value of the items in your garden along with the other contents within your home.

Go outside and have a look around to add up the value of all the items in your garden, not forgetting all the items in your shed, garage and other outbuildings. Remember to add up the cost of plants and ornaments, garden tools, mower, children’s toys and, even your gnomes, if you have them. You’ll be surprised how much you have in your garden, probably a few thousand pounds worth at least!

So, if thieves got into your garden and stole your furniture or vandalised your plants, would you have the cover in place?

What’s covered?

Check your home insurance policy, as very basic home insurance might not have any cover for your garden.

For example, in your home, protection for things in your garden will be split between buildings and contents insurance. So, to make sure your garden and everything in it is fully covered, you may need both types of insurance.

What protection do Paymentshield offer?

Paymentshield’s Buildings insurance

With a Paymentshield policy, the following are all covered up to your selected buildings sum insured:

• Garden walls, gates & fences
• Drives & footpaths
• Domestic outbuildings, like your shed or garages
• Ponds, hot tubs & swimming pools

   

  You can also claim up to £2,000 for loss or damage to:

• Trees, shrubs, plants, hedges & lawns

These are all seen to be part of the structure of your home and therefore covered under Paymentshield Building’s Insurance. You'll usually be insured for loss or damage as a result of fire, theft, subsidence, impact malicious damage or vandalism. For more information take a look at Paymentshield’s Policy Booklet.

If you want accidental damage to garden structures, you may have to pay a bit extra for this type of cover.

What’s not covered: Storm or flood damage to hedges, fences and gates are not covered along with any loss or damage if your property is left unoccupied for more than 60 days in a row.

Paymentshield’s Contents insurance

Items in the garden that are out in the open are covered up to £2,500 including items such as:

• Garden furniture for example table and chairs/sofa suite
• Ornaments
• BBQ’s
• Patio heaters
• Gazebos

Theft from any outbuildings will also be covered up to £5,000 but only if the items are locked away. For more information take a look at Paymentshield’s Policy Booklet.

What’s not covered: Loss or damage to contents left out in the open from a storm or flood. Loss or damage from theft unless force and/or violence are used to get into or out of the area stolen from. Also, pedal cycles that are left out in the open wouldn’t be covered.

New for old: With a Paymentshield policy, lost or damaged property will be replaced on a new for old basis, where we consider it appropriate.

Trusted tradespeople: You’ll have access to a network of contractors, repairers and product suppliers dedicated to providing claim solutions.

What to remember when comparing home insurance that covers your garden

Policy excesses: Most buildings and contents policies have a number of excess options, which can be anything from £50 to £1000, and they tend to go up in increments of £50.

Be careful with the higher excess amounts, as they can sometimes exceed the cost of what you're claiming for. Also, there may be a split excess which is when there’s a voluntary excess and a compulsory excess to pay. Meaning you could end up paying more than you expected.