Homeowners advised to protect gardens this summer
Personal insurance
28th June 2010
People often spend large sums on protecting their homes from damage or break-ins, installing smoke detectors, burglar alarms, deadlocks and other security measures. However, households often neglect to apply the same approach to their outdoor spaces.
People are spending increasing amounts on their gardens and the contents of their sheds, in part because of the slew of programmes on television providing landscaping and DIY tips. But, many individuals neglect to guard their investments against theft or harm.
There are many things British property owners can do to secure their investments against crime and Giles Insurance Brokers Ltd. also advises that consumers carefully check policies to ensure they are covered in the event of an incident involving outdoor property or tools. This is particularly important as a recent poll carried out by the Shelter and the Royal Institute of British Architects found 73 per cent of homeowners have a dream improvement project planned.
Regarding measures to prevent thieves from stealing expensive garden features or plants, Homebuilding and Renovating Magazine assistant editor Melanie Griffiths suggested recently that effective outdoor lighting systems can provide a deterrent and claimed many self-builders are starting install gates as well to make their properties safer.
Lights can be fitted with sensors that are triggered by movement around the perimeter of homes, while smart lighting systems can make it appear as though people are inside in order to put people off tampering with dwellings.
Susan Young, Group Personal Lines Director of Giles Insurance, advised: "Many people spend hours turning their gardens into a summer paradise and any damage to their investment can prove very upsetting. However, individuals can guard against any financial ramifications of theft or accidents by taking out a home insurance policy that extends to outdoor as well as indoor spaces.
"In addition to this, tools and garden implements should be locked up securely in a garage or shed, as these can go missing if left unprotected and may also provide egress to a home for criminals. Lighting, padlocks, alarms, fences, securing outbuildings and other such measures may well prevent problems, while policies can offer peace of mind if something happens."
Speaking to an expert broker can help with this and it is important that the details of products are checked carefully, particularly as research company Defaqto recently cautioned that some home contents policies provide less than £1,000 worth of cover in total for objects left "in the open", including items such as bicycles that have not been locked away, mowers, water features, barbecues, garden chairs, tables and even plants.
The firm's expert analyst Mike Powell explained that such items can "be expensive to replace and run into hundreds of pounds", while a survey discovered 42 per cent of home insurance schemes offer less than £1,000 for this category, 43 per cent provide between £1,000 and £2,000, with just 15 per cent offering more than £2,000 to replace lost or damaged possessions left "in the open".
Households should, therefore, check that they have the right product in place to ensure they enjoy the summer sunshine without any dark financial clouds on the horizon.
