Gardens are our outdoor retreats, especially in hot weather. So, if you have home insurance, you might be wondering if it covers your garden and everything in it.
The answer is most of the time, but it depends on your situation. Some parts of your garden are covered by your buildings insurance, others by your contents. Some things aren't covered at all.
It isn't straightforward and can be confusing, but every home insurance policy is different.
So, in this guide, we'll talk through what home insurance offers you when it comes to your garden.
Is my garden already covered by home insurance?
Yes, for the most part! Most home insurance policies tend to offer some level of cover for your garden. You might find it difficult to find a standalone garden insurance policy because of this.
'So, is everything in my policy covered by one home insurance policy?'
No. Some features, such as a shed or garage, are covered by buildings insurance. Other items, such as a lawnmower or garden dining furniture are likely protected under your contents insurance.
If you have a home insurance policy that offers cover for your garden, happy days! But there are some common exclusions you should be aware of. These can vary depending on your insurer.
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Any contents stolen from an unlocked outbuilding.
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Items that exceed the single-item limit (such as an expensive bike).
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Damage caused by severe weather conditions.
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Indoor items (such as your phone) left unattended in your garden.
If you're unsure exactly what you're covered for, it's best to contact your insurer directly.
Does home insurance cover garden fences and walls?
Without sitting on the fence (no pun intended), it depends on what is set out in your home insurance policy.
Typically, fences aren't covered by home insurance in the event of storm damage, for example. In some situations, insurers do offer cover for damage caused by storms and bad weather, but with stated conditions.
There are other ways your fence or walls could be damaged, like fire or vandalism. This type of damage is typically covered by home insurance.
But we need to talk about a common sticking point here regarding any type of damage claim: wear and tear.
You'll need to prove the condition of your walls or fences before the damage occurred. Simply put, if you don't maintain your fence and it gets damaged, your insurer might not accept your claim.
Even if you maintain your wall or fence, your insurer could stil question what caused the damage. In terms of weather or storm damage, they'll look at factors like wind speed and rainfall when determining your claim. They might even decide that the storm wasn't big enough to cause damage.
Can I claim for my garden fence or wall on my home insurance?
You can, but the big 'if' here is whether your home insurance offers you cover for garden fences and walls.
If it does, great! But there are a few things you should know before lodging a claim.
Firstly, should you claim?
Let's say a section of your garden fence is damaged during a storm. If you have cover, you'll likely need to claim on your buildings insurance policy. But check your excess amounts (voluntary and compulsory). In some cases, the amount of excess deducted from your final payout might be more than the cost of fixing or replacing your fence.
So, it's important to weigh up the costs involved, especially if it saves you a few quid! Also, you could lose your no-claims bonus (NCB) if you decide to claim.
If you decide to claim, you'll need to provide a detailed explanation of how the damage happened, along with supporting evidence like photos and videos. This can help your chances of a successful claim, so it's worth providing as much detail as you can!
What's covered by contents insurance in my garden?
Contents insurance should cover the moveable features in your garden. Your shed doesn't count though, no matter how hard you try to move it!
Here's what's usually covered by your contents insurance:
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Outdoor barbecues and patio heaters
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Garden or patio furniture
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Lawnmowers, strimmers and garden tools
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Garden ornaments, plant pots and statues
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Children's play equipment, such as slides, swings and trampolines
Although your policy could include cover for listed items, some could be conditional. What does this mean? Some insurers only offer cover for certain items, such as garden tools, if they're locked away in outbuildings.Your insurer might not cover your contents if someone steals them from an unlocked outbuilding, or without signs of forced entry.
It's also important to think about the amount of home insurance cover you might need. For example, let's say the stated single-item limit in your home contents policy is £1,000. If your garden barbecue is worth more than that, your cover won't stretch to replace it's value if it's stolen or damaged.
Do I need separate insurance for my shed or garden room?
Sheds, outbuildings, summer houses and greenhouses are typically covered by a home insurance policy, provided they're within your property's boundaries.
These are considered separate structures located in a garden, so they tend to fall under 'garden features' on your buildings insurance policy. This is different from extensions such as a porch or conservatory, which are generally considered part of the property.
So, what should you do if you're thinking of building a shed or outbuilding? Always notify your insurer and check this work is covered. If you build a structure in your garden and don't notify your insurer, they could reject any claims if something goes wrong.
You can't get standalone policies for sheds or garden houses. But if you're looking for additional cover, it's best to speak to your insurer. They could include your shed on your insurance, but it'll likely come at an extra cost.
Otherwise, you can always compare home insurance quotes to find a policy that suits your garden needs.
Is my garden office covered by home insurance?
Okay, so when you're looking for home insurance, you'll often by asked whether you work from home, and to what extent. You'll need to declare your working situation to insurers so you have a valid home insurance policy in place to protect you.
If your work equipment is provided by your employer, they should have some form of insurance in place to cover these items. However, the situation changes if you're self-employed or use your own equipment. If you regularly have visitors in a business capacity, or keep tools and stock, you might need to consider a business use home insurance policy. In addition, it's worth considering other specialist cover for business equipment and liability insurance.
So, in terms of garden office insurance, the degree to which you use your home for work or business could affect what type of cover you need.
Do I need insurance for my hot tub?
If you have a hot tub (lucky you!) it's not always a given that you'll have cover included in your home insurance policy. Fixed hot tubs could be covered by a buildings insurance policy, whereas portable hot tubs might fall under contents.
Whatever the case may be, some insurers exclude cover for hot tubs altogether. In other instances, you might be covered as long as the value of the hot tub doesn't exceed the single-item limit. If it does, you could opt to increase your single-item limit at an extra cost, or look to insure your hot tub separately.
In any case, there are certain risks connected to hut tubs that you need to know if you make a claim. Firstly, if any other items are damaged by water or electrical damage caused by your hot tub, your claim could be rejected.
If you do have cover in place for your hot tub, you'll need to make sure it's properly maintained. As enjoyable as hot tubs are, they're prone to damage. This is important to note as general wear and tear is a common exclusion when it comes to insurance. So, keeping your hot tub in good condition can help your case if you need to claim.
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