Make sure the garden is covered this bank holiday weekend

Over one third (35%) of those questioned value their garden contents at between £250 and £1,000, according to a study by Nationwide. With such a large amount of money being spent on the garden, it is important that homeowners make sure they are protected against garden thieves by ensuring they have adequate insurance cover in place.

Claims for garden furniture and ornaments are among the most commonly received by Nationwide, which provides up to £1,000 worth of cover as standard for loss of, or damage to, contents in the garden.

Nationwide’s insurance director, Robin Bailey, said: “Spring is in the air and, if the rain holds off, some of us may be planning to spend time in the garden this Bank Holiday weekend. Items such as lawnmowers and garden furniture will be dusted off and may be left out in the open for long periods of time, resulting in easy pickings for opportunistic thieves and vandals. It is really important that these items are adequately insured against acts of theft or vandalism.

“We understand that customers want more from their insurance provider, which is why our home insurance includes up to £1,000 of cover for contents in the garden as standard. For customers switching to Nationwide, we will beat whatever they paid for their home insurance last year, or refund the difference up to £100”.

Top tips for keeping contents in the garden safe:

Photograph expensive items such as potted plants, ornaments and furniture so that you are able to identify them if stolen;

Invest in some ground anchors which can be used to secure garden furniture and ornaments to the ground;

Don’t leave tools lying around the garden – these can be used as an aid to gain entry to your home;

Many of us keep items such as bikes, lawnmowers and garden tools in the shed – always make sure you lock the shed;

Cover up shed windows with curtains or blinds.