Allianz handled nearly £200,000 in plant and garden claims in 2024 alone, including a single theft claim exceeding £14,000. That figure covers just one insurer’s books, which means the total value of outdoor items lost or damaged across the UK each year runs much higher. For a typical household, a decent patio set, barbecue, and lawnmower can easily add up to £2,000 or more — money you’d be out of pocket for if your home insurance doesn’t cover what’s sitting in your garden.
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This article is general information only and does not constitute professional advice. For your specific situation, consult a qualified professional.
Most people assume their home insurance covers the garden automatically. It does — up to a point. The catch is that buildings and contents policies split responsibility for different types of outdoor items, and each comes with its own limits, exclusions, and conditions. A £3,000 patio heater left out overnight might not be covered at all, while a £200 fence panel damaged in a storm probably is. Understanding where the line falls between buildings and contents cover, and what your policy’s specific limits are, makes the difference between a paid claim and a refused one. Here’s what you actually need to know.
Before going further, it helps to pin down one term that comes up repeatedly. Covered peril is the insurance industry’s way of saying “the specific bad thing your policy protects you against.” If your policy covers storm damage but not accidental breakage, a fence blown over in high winds is a claim — a fence knocked over by your car reversing into it probably isn’t.
Garden insurance limits, exclusions, and what they cost you
The numbers that matter most are the ones that determine whether a claim gets paid in full, partially, or not at all. Garden contents limits are the first place people get caught out. A standard policy might offer £2,500 of cover for outdoor items, but if your garden furniture alone cost £1,800 and your barbecue another £600, you’re already over the single-item limit on the barbecue before you even get to the lawnmower.
Buildings cover for fixed garden structures works differently. Sheds, greenhouses, and gazebos are typically included under buildings insurance, but the level of cover depends on whether you told your insurer about them when you took out the policy. An outbuilding you built after the policy started and never declared may not be covered at all. The same applies to patios, decking, and driveways — they’re covered as permanent features, but only up to the buildings sum insured, and only for covered perils.
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| Item Type | Which Policy Covers It | Typical Limit | Common Catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheds, greenhouses, gazebos | Buildings | Part of buildings sum insured | Must be declared at policy start or when built |
| Fences, walls, gates | Buildings | Part of buildings sum insured | Storm damage covered; wear and tear excluded |
| Patios, decking, driveways | Buildings | Part of buildings sum insured | Only covered for named perils, not gradual damage |
| Garden furniture, BBQs | Contents | £1,000–£10,000 total; ~£2,000 per item | Must be secured; indoor items left out excluded |
| Lawnmowers, power tools | Contents | £1,000–£10,000 total; ~£2,000 per item | Stolen from unlocked shed = likely refused |
| Plants, shrubs, trees | Contents (sometimes) | Often £500–£1,000 | Only covered for specific perils like fire or vandalism |
| Swimming pools, hot tubs | Buildings | Part of buildings sum insured | Must be declared; liability cover may be separate |
Take a realistic scenario. You have a £3,000 garden room used as a home office, with £1,500 of equipment inside. A storm damages the roof, and someone breaks in the same night and steals a laptop. The roof repair falls under buildings cover, subject to your buildings excess. The laptop is contents, but if the garden room wasn’t declared as an outbuilding, the insurer could argue it wasn’t a secure structure and refuse the contents claim entirely. That’s two separate claims, two different policy sections, and one expensive lesson about disclosure.
Where garden insurance claims go wrong
The research points to four recurring mistakes that turn a valid loss into a rejected claim. Each one is avoidable once you know what insurers actually check.
Assuming all outdoor items are covered the same way
A £400 barbecue left on the patio overnight is a contents item. A £400 fence panel blown down in a storm is a buildings item. They sit in different parts of your policy, with different excesses, limits, and conditions. If you claim the fence panel under contents, it gets rejected. If you claim the barbecue under buildings, same result. The split isn’t obvious, and insurers don’t correct you — they just decline the claim. Before you need to claim, check your policy schedule to see which items sit under which section. If you’re unsure, a property lawyer can review your policy wording for a fixed fee.
Leaving valuable items unsecured
Most contents policies include a condition that garden items must be locked away in a secure outbuilding overnight. Leave a strimmer or patio heater on the table and it’s stolen, the insurer can refuse on the grounds that you didn’t take reasonable care. The same applies to unlocked sheds. A TECKNET door alarm sensor costs under £15 and gives you a clear record that the shed was secured — useful evidence if a claim is questioned. Locking things away isn’t just good practice; it’s a policy requirement.
Not declaring new structures or high-value items
Build a garden office, install a hot tub, or buy a £3,000 robotic lawnmower, and your existing policy doesn’t automatically cover it. Insurers need to know about changes that increase risk or value. A garden room used as a home office also raises questions about business use, which many standard home policies exclude. If you work from a garden office, check whether your policy covers business equipment or if you need separate cover — something covered in more detail in our guide to property insurance for UK remote workers.
Claiming for gradual damage or wear and tear
A fence that rotted over three years isn’t a claim. A patio that cracked from frost over two winters isn’t a claim. Plants that died in a drought aren’t a claim. Garden insurance only covers sudden, unexpected damage from a named peril. If the damage happened slowly, the insurer treats it as maintenance, not a loss. The only way to protect against gradual deterioration is to maintain the items yourself — insurance won’t step in for deferred upkeep.
How to make sure your garden is actually covered
Getting garden cover right means working through your policy methodically rather than assuming everything is included. Here’s what that looks like in practice.
Check your buildings and contents split
Start with your policy schedule. It will list a buildings sum insured and a contents sum insured. Garden structures like sheds, fences, and patios sit under buildings. Movable items like furniture, tools, and BBQs sit under contents. If your policy doesn’t mention garden cover at all, call your insurer and ask. Some budget policies exclude garden items entirely or cap them at very low amounts like £250.
Identify single-item limits and total sub-limits
Most policies have a sub-limit for garden contents — a maximum they’ll pay for all outdoor items combined, regardless of your total contents sum insured. That sub-limit might be £1,500 or £5,000. On top of that, there’s usually a single-item limit of around £2,000. If your garden furniture set cost £2,500, you’d only get £2,000 back. The fix is to specify high-value items individually on your policy, which may increase your premium but guarantees the full value is covered.
Declare outbuildings and permanent features
If you have a shed, greenhouse, garden room, or summer house, tell your insurer. If you built one after the policy started, tell them then. Outbuildings not declared at inception can be excluded from cover entirely. The same applies to swimming pools, hot tubs, tennis courts, and any permanent structure that adds value or risk. A quick phone call or online form update is all it takes.
Secure everything to policy standards
Read the security conditions in your policy wording. If it says garden items must be locked in a shed overnight, do that. If it says the shed must have a five-lever mortice lock, fit one. If it says bicycles must be locked to a ground anchor, install one. Insurers use these conditions to refuse claims where the policyholder didn’t follow them. A home security starter kit with outdoor cameras and motion alerts gives you both deterrence and evidence — two things that help at claim time.
Know what to do when damage happens
If a storm damages your fence or someone steals your garden furniture, the process is the same as any home insurance claim. Take photos of the damage or the point of entry. Get a crime reference number from the police for theft. Check your excess — if the damage is £300 and your excess is £250, you only get £50 back, which may not be worth the claim. Provide receipts or bank statements as proof of value. Submit the claim through your insurer’s portal or phone line within the time limit stated in your policy (usually 30 to 90 days).
What’s changing in garden insurance
Insurers are tightening security requirements for outbuildings, particularly garden offices and studios that contain expensive equipment. Some policies now require specific locks, alarms, or even CCTV for any outbuilding used as a workspace. If you’re planning a garden office, check the security requirements before you build, not after. A security camera with motion detection and night vision can satisfy most insurer conditions while also protecting the contents.
Frequently asked questions about garden insurance
Are plants and shrubs covered by home insurance? ▾
Does buildings insurance cover fence damage from storms? ▾
What happens if my garden shed is broken into and items are stolen? ▾
Do I need to tell my insurer about a new garden office? ▾
Is a hot tub covered by buildings or contents insurance? ▾
Can I claim for a trampoline damaged in high winds? ▾
Your garden is worth more than you think — check your cover before you need it
The £200,000 in garden claims Allianz handled in 2024 represents only the claims that were actually made. The far larger number is the value of garden items that people lost and never claimed for, either because they didn’t realise they were covered or because they discovered too late that they weren’t. A single afternoon spent reading your policy schedule and calling your insurer to confirm limits and conditions can save you thousands. The alternative is finding out at claim time that your £3,000 garden room, £1,500 furniture set, and £800 barbecue were never fully covered in the first place.
Remember: this article is general information only. For advice on your specific situation, speak to a qualified professional.
If this was useful, you might also want to read Understanding Building Replacement Costs for Property Insurance in the UK.
Sources and Further Reading
Subsidence Scare: UK Property Insurance and Your Peace of Mind — A related guide on how ground movement affects buildings cover and what to do if your property is in a subsidence-prone area.
Lemonade (2024). Garden Insurance: What’s Covered and What’s Not. 🔗
Allianz (2024). Garden Insurance and What’s Covered. 🔗
Confused.com (2024). Garden Insurance Guide. 🔗
