Make sure your home insurance covers your garden items

‘Contents in the open' is a standard feature on most home insurance policies and covers items left outside in the garden or boundary of the home.  As the weather improves and we start to enjoy outside spaces more, Defaqto urges consumers to check the detail of their policies if they want to be adequately insured.

Mike Powell, Insight Analyst for General Insurance at Defaqto says: "It's easy to forget that home contents policies can include our gardens.  Water features, decking, garden furniture, outside lighting, gas barbecues, children's play things and plants can be expensive to replace and run into hundreds of pounds."

Consumers do not always consider the true value of their garden or items left outside when taking out home insurance. It's important to check the policy wording and any specific exclusions as there are huge differences in the level of cover provided. Some checkpoints could include:

is the cover usually limited to the boundaries of your home?
is there a limit to the level of cover provided?
are certain items excluded from cover - such as plants and trees, pedal cycles, money and valuables?
what is the definition of ‘valuables'?

Defaqto's 5 Star Rating system reviews all policies available and signposts the most relevant cover depending on your circumstances, and demonstrates the potential pitfall of comparing polices on price alone. For example, whilst a small starter home with a balcony may require 1 or 2 Star Rated cover, those owning a larger property with sizeable gardens and outbuildings may require the security of 5 Star Rated cover, which will come with an array of added features and benefits and often, levels of cover.

Brian Brown, Defaqto's Head of Research said: "Our Star Ratings provide consumers with an easy way of assessing the quality of a financial product and help them to make a more informed purchase decision.