While recent studies indicate a home with a garden, or a larger garden, is a priority for property buyers in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, this isn’t a new demand. For 2019, Zoopla announced “garden” was in the top three search terms used by prospective buyers. A garden will always be a leading priority for property buyers, but another recent study suggests homeowners don’t place garden security as a leading priority.
As we head into summer, people will spend a lot of time in their garden. This means many items will be in and around the garden. The study undertaken out by MoneySuperMarket suggests more than half of the property owners who have a garden don’t adequately insure their outdoor items and possessions.
Many gardens hold valuable items
The survey suggests the average value of items in a garden is £1,457 but 59% of respondents don’t have these items listed on their home insurance policy. In total this equates to just less than £33 billion worth of goods not being covered by an insurance policy.
Some homeowners hold home insurance which covers items in their garden, but this isn’t the case for every property owner.
Kate Devine is the Head of Home Insurance at MoneySuperMarket, and she said; “As we look ahead to the potential lift of lockdown in the summer months, we can expect to see Brits heading out of the house to enjoy outdoor activities. Particularly in these months, there’s the temptation to leave items of value outside overnight or keep your shed unlocked. This can, however, leave you open to a risk of burglary and in turn, possibly void your home insurance cover if you need to make a claim. Most standard contents insurance policies include a small amount of cover for garden items, but specifics can vary – so it’s always worth checking to ensure that your valuable outdoor items are fully covered.”
According to the survey, the most common items found in British gardens are:
- Furniture, which was cited by 57% of respondents
- DIY tools, listed by 48% of respondents
- BBQs, reported by 38% of respondents
- Bikes, named by 36% of respondents
Bikes were the most commonly stolen items, with 32% of respondents who had suffered a theft from their garden reporting it was a bike they had stolen.
Garden security tips
If you are looking to improve the security at your garden, follow these tips:
- Lock your items away when they are not in use – if you can prove forced entry after items have been stolen, your insurance claim is likely to be more successful
- Improve security around the perimeter of your property – planting shrubs and strengthening fences can deter would-be thieves from entering your garden
- Add external lights – if you make it harder for people to make it around your garden without being seen, you will reduce the likelihood of opportunistic thieves
If you have any housing market questions or queries, please feel free to contact us. At Frank Schippers, we are here to support you in this trying time, so contact us today.
