Protect your garden treasures

With a double-whammy of Bank Holidays on the horizon, Brits will already be keeping their fingers crossed for good weather as well as thinking of barbeques and parties, so moneysupermarket.com urges those sprucing up their gardens and planning ‘al fresco' entertaining to ensure their garden treasures are well protected.

Research by Britain's number one comparison site found levels of protection can vary greatly between home contents policies. Cover for items kept outdoors in the garden can range from just £250 to unlimited cover from an M&S policy (see table in notes to editors). It is also important to remember expensive items such as bikes, lawnmowers and tools that you might have stored in sheds and outbuildings; these should be as secure as they would be in the home and providers offer levels of cover for these items from between £2000 with esure to unlimited with Halifax or M&S.

As with home contents insurance it is worth looking in the policy details to see if the insurer has a single item limit within their terms and conditions, especially if you have particularly expensive garden furniture or items such as patio heaters. If it does not state a limit it may be worth contacting your insurer to notify them of any item that is of value to ensure that you could make a claim for it should the need arise.

Julie Owens, head of home insurance at moneysupermarket.com said: "It's easy to forget your garden contents when thinking about home insurance cover. Whether you have acres of space filled with garden gnomes, a landscaped paradise to enjoy this year or you've forked out for the latest high-tech gas barbecues or patio heaters, the costs can easily run into the thousands. It is essential people consider the cost implications of theft or damage to garden items, and cover themselves accordingly.

"Garden cover is included in most home insurance policies as standard, but you need to consider the level of cover provided to make sure you're not underinsured. Landscaped gardens and costly furniture items are easy targets for thieves, as are elaborate statues and expensive plants, so it's important to read the small print to determine exactly what is covered.

"It is also vital to consider the expensive items and equipment kept in sheds, out-houses and other storage areas. People might have bikes, gym equipment or other possessions that warrant cover so it's important to keep these secure to make sure your insurance remains valid."

moneysupermarket.com's top ten tips to keep your garden and valuables safe:

Insurers are specific about what is and isn't covered as part of contents and outbuildings. Read the small print and ensure your open space is fully insured.

Don't let thieves have easy access to your garden. Ensure all gates and fences are in a good state of repair, and kept locked and bolted.

Make sure your shed has a good lock.

Do not leave expensive tools or valuable items, such as bicycles, lying in your garden. Keep them locked away at night because if they are not properly secured, they might not be covered.

Make sure damage to walls, gates and fences are covered under your buildings insurance policy. Not all insurers provide this as standard.

Install a security light as a deterrent to any would-be thief.

Keep receipts for items purchased for the garden in case of a future claims. It may also be worth declaring any single expensive items, such as a lawnmower, that may come above the single item limit on your cover.

If you have lots of expensive items in your garden then a normal policy may not cover you. Instead, you might be better opting for a high net-worth policy.

Make sure you tell your insurer if you have a swimming pool as this may not be covered automatically.

Make sure you know what is excluded in your cover. Most will not cover you for loss or damage if your home is unoccupied.