Sports fans look to kit out gardens for the party season

With the summer just around the corner, many Brits will be thinking about upgrading their gardens to enjoy major sporting events and spend time entertaining outdoors. M&S Money is advising those making new purchases or sprucing up their gardens to make sure they have adequate home insurance.

Research by M&S Money has found that the average UK garden contains £721 worth of plants, bushes and trees, but despite this, two thirds of householders fail to check if their greenery is covered by their existing insurance policy.

Andrew Ferguson, M&S Head of General Insurance, said: "As the weather improves and events such as Wimbledon approach, many people will be looking to kit out their gardens for the party season with new furniture and plants. Some people may assume these items will be covered with their existing home contents cover, but this often isn't the case, particularly for more expensive items."

Recent research has found that the level of protection of garden contents in home insurance policies vary greatly between providers. M&S Home Insurance was found to be the only provider to offer unlimited contents cover for garden and outbuildings contents in its home insurance policy.

Andrew Ferguson continues: "We would urge people to check their home contents policy covers them for garden goods, whether there is a limit to the cover and any other terms and conditions that apply. It is important that goods are stored safely, so that if a claim is necessary, you have peace of mind that it will be valid. M&S Home Contents Insurance includes unlimited contents cover to items in the garden and outbuildings."

Simple steps from M&S Money to safeguarding your garden contents this summer:

Check your existing policy to ensure your garden and outbuildings contents are covered and what your excess is for any claims

When making a large purchase, such as a patio heater or barbeque, it is advisable to notify your insurer, to ensure these more expensive items are covered

Keep valuable items, such as barbeques, lawnmowers and bikes locked away in sheds or outbuildings at night and when not in use

Make sure the locks on outbuildings are secure and keys are not kept near the buildings

Install a light by outbuildings to discourage thieves

Ensure any entries to your garden are properly shut and are not easily accessible from the outside.

Marks & Spencer home insurance is available online at marksandspencer.com/homeinsurance.