As the days get longer and the weather warms up, criminals are eyeing up gardens across the country – and many homeowners don’t realise they’re not properly insured.
Shocking figures reveal that more than 517,000 garden thefts were reported in England and Wales in the year ending March 2024, making up over 90% of household crimes. From BBQs and garden furniture to bicycles and tools, outdoor items are easy pickings for criminals.
Angela Pilley, Home Insurance Expert at Defaqto, warns:
“People invest thousands in their gardens and outdoor spaces, but often fail to check if they’re covered. While 95% of home insurance products include cover for outbuildings like sheds and garages, only 15% actually cover theft up to the full contents sum insured. Some products offer as little as £250, which won’t even cover a decent lawnmower.
Another common mistake is failing to lock sheds and outbuildings – 25% of insurance providers won’t pay out if thieves don’t have to force their way in. And when it comes to outdoor items like furniture and BBQs, limits vary from £250 to the full contents sum insured so now is the time to check your cover, especially if you’ve splurged on any expensive items that are stored outside.”
Bicycles are also a prime target, with 77,000 stolen every year. The average new bike now costs £590, and some high-end models can exceed £10,000 – but 11% of home insurance products don’t include cycle cover at all. Even where cover exists, 42% impose limits of £250 to £1,999 per bike, and many insurance providers require bikes to be locked in a building or secured to an immovable object, even at home.
Angela adds:
“Parents should be particularly careful during the summer holidays, as children often leave bikes lying around in the garden. Without proper security, families could be left seriously out of pocket.”
Even everyday items left outside temporarily, like portable speakers or dining chairs, aren’t necessarily covered.
“People assume their home insurance will protect them if they move something outside for a few hours, but 13% of products don’t cover this at all. And most won’t cover valuables which can include tablets or entertainment tech for some products,” says Angela.
“As we head into Spring and Summer and get to enjoy our gardens again, check if your policy gives you the cover you need. As a starting point, home insurance products with a four or five Star Defaqto Rating which state their cover limits in monetary values must offer cover for contents in the open for £750 or more, and cover for theft from outbuildings must be provided for £2,000 or more.”
One, two or three Star Rated products may also provide cover for these amounts but cover in other areas might be lower, affecting their overall rating.
How to protect your outdoor possessions
- Check your insurance limits – don’t assume your garden items are covered.
- Lock your sheds and garages – or risk invalidating your policy.
- Store expensive items inside when not in use – some products won’t cover storm or flood damage.
- Secure your bikes – insurance providers often require them to be locked up, even at home.
- Know what counts as ‘valuable’ – tablets, phones and speakers may not be covered if stolen from outside.