These are valid question during summertime, as sheds, robot mowers, fire pits and BBQs all tempt thieves;
With the horticultural industry contributing £38 billion to the UK economy, the Chelsea Flower Show continues to inspire Brits to splash out on high-value outdoor items. Yet Go.Compare warns that many homeowners wrongly assume these purchases are covered under their existing home contents insurance.
The flower show effect: renovations bloom
Welcoming around 168,000 visitors each year, the Chelsea Flower Show shapes global garden trends, providing gardeners with inspiration to take to their own backyards.
Google trends reflect the boom, with ‘garden upgrade’ searches up 58%, while ‘outdoor kitchen’ and ‘fire pit’ captured over 300,000 searches collectively in the past month. But insurance experts urge homeowners to check whether these new investments are protected.
Tamzin Metcalfe, home insurance expert from Go.Compare says:“Think your garden is automatically covered by your home insurance? Think again. Although your home insurance might include some outdoor cover, there are often exclusions. If your lawnmower is stolen from an unlocked shed, or your expensive bay trees are rooted in the ground rather than in pots, your insurer might not pay out if they’re stolen. It’s crucial to check policy limits before assuming full cover.”
Research suggests that 67% of gardeners have been victims of plant theft and with the average gardener admitting they pay as much as £300 on a single plant, this is a growing problem. This highlights a real need for homeowners to protect their investments. According to Go.Compare, permanent fixtures in your garden – like sheds, outhouses, patios, and hot tubs – might be covered under your buildings insurance. And items you keep in your garden – like patio furniture, barbecues and tools – might be covered under your contents insurance.
But for plant-lovers, it’s important to check your policy wording carefully: only 64% of contents insurance policies include plant cover as standard.
Exotic plants and ornaments: what your insurance covers
Some policies only cover plants kept in pots, rather than planted on the ground – and certain species of plants or flowers could be excluded. If you have expensive plants, you might need additional cover. High value bonsai trees could exceed your policy’s single limit value – with some mature trees costing thousands of pounds. Even garden gnomes, which the Chelsea Flower Show welcomed back for the second time in its history [5], can be valuable collectibles – worth making sure you’re covered for. Protecting your garden requires a combination of robust insurance cover and practical security solutions. Go.Compare home insurance expert Tamzin Metcalfe shares advice on how to deter theft and protect your outdoor items this summer:
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