You might not have realised that your garden probably holds more monetary value than you think – the average garden can contain thousands of pounds worth of stuff.
Whether it’s patio furniture, gardening tools or BBQs, you may want to protect these against damage and loss, or if they’re stolen.
Is my garden covered by my home insurance policy?
Because a garden is counted as a permanent feature of a home, most people with standard home insurance already have cover for their garden plants and contents.
Buildings insurance generally covers things like:
- walls
- patios
- sheds (which are permanently fitted)
Contents insurance is there to protect the items that can be moved, from plant pots to garden gnomes.
Make sure you add your home's contents up and get the right cover for your needs. Check out our guide on how much contents insurance do I need.
We offer garden contents cover up to £1,000 on our Gold home insurance and £2,500 on our Platinum tier. Our standard Admiral cover doesn’t protect garden contents.
Always check your policy book to see what is and isn’t covered.
What's covered by garden insurance?
It’s a good idea to think about the items in your garden you’d want covered by your home insurance in case they were stolen.
Gardens, sheds and outbuildings are very popular with thieves because they’re often far easier to access than a house, so take the time to add all the contents up.
Our internal claims data shows that since the start of 2023, the average cost of theft from a garden is £2,636. The items most likely to be stolen are:
- bikes
- tools
- garden equipment
Our Gold policy offers £1,500 cover for theft from your locked garden shed. Our Platinum policy offers £5,000, and our Admiral policy doesn’t include cover for theft from your outbuildings, including sheds.
Your shed has to be a permanent and immovable fixture to be covered. For more information on what is and isn’t covered, check your policy book.
I’m a landlord – what's covered?
If you’re a landlord, you'll probably still have some cover in place to protect your garden and outbuildings.
For instance, theft from outbuildings isn’t covered as standard on our Admiral tier, but on our Gold tier you’re covered for up to £1,500 and on our Platinum tier you’re covered for up to £5,000 worth of damage or theft.
Limits and exclusions apply (for instance, that your outbuilding must be locked for it to be covered), so always check your policy book for full information.
What isn’t included in garden insurance?
There may be gaps in some home insurance policies which are worth looking into before you buy.
The effects of weather and storm damage on your garden, for example, may not be covered in the same way as they are with your home.
Certain items in your garden might be excluded, such as special plants and exotic flowers.
You might have to take out more specialist insurance as many insurers might not offer cover for high-value items outside the home.
How can I protect my garden?
Noel Summerfield, Head of Home Insurance at Admiral, says: "Unfortunately, gardens, sheds and outbuildings are popular with thieves because they tend to be easier to access than a house, whether the owners are at home or not.”
“Summertime offers the perfect opportunity to take stock of what’s in your garden and outside storage space, especially if you’re considering investing in new furniture, outdoor toys or sports equipment.”
“As winter approaches and you start to lock away the things you won’t be using as much – tools, lawnmowers, garden equipment and furniture, BBQs and sporting equipment - think about how much value your garden shed or garage is holding.”
"Investing in a good, secure lock for sheds and making sure they're locked at all times, as well as investing in security lights to alert you if someone's in your garden, are just some measures you can take to help stop thieves from breaking into your garden.”
“As well as being clear on what's covered by your insurance, it’s also important to take care and protect your garden and outbuildings.”
Seven ways to protect your garden
- Damage check – after winter and bad weather, check to make sure your shed or garden walls are still in a decent condition and make the necessary repairs if not.
- Lock up – any gates or other entrances should have good locks fitted and always be kept locked.
- Shed light on the situation – think about investing in motion-deterrent security lights at the front and back of your house to deter thieves.
- Strong borders – thorny bushes, high fencing and even trellises (which can be decorated with flowers in spring and summer), can help make your garden and house more secure.
- High winds – if strong winds made you realise items aren’t as secure as you thought, fix any ornaments to the ground to prevent them from being blown away or stolen.
- Batten down – loose bricks and garden tools are commonly used to aid break-ins, so make sure tools are locked away. Likewise, keep ladders firmly locked to an immovable object and, wherever possible, keep wheelie bins secure as they could offer burglars a handy leg up over walls or into windows.
- Seasonal changes – summer furniture isn’t built to withstand a bleak winter, so make sure it’s kept in a safe, dry place.
Top tips for keeping your garage and shed safe
- Fit strong padlocks and hardware to shed and garage doors and make sure they’re strong enough not to be kicked through.
- Install a lockable steel box or anchor post to the floor for storing expensive equipment.
- Secure locks or bars to windows.
- Install lighting as exterior lights are off-putting for thieves. Fix them near doors and at the rear of your home in a high spot to keep them out of reach.
Make sure you keep your shed secure with a good-quality lock if it’s where you keep most of your stuff.
If your insurer covers theft from a shed, they'll likely only pay out in the event of theft if there’s evidence of forced entry.
