This summer, don't leave your gnome unprotected

Nearly one in 10 home insurance products do not protect the garden from damage or theft
Last year there were an estimated 11,000 incidents of loss or damage to UK gardens
With the summer now officially upon us, and more households in the UK starting to make use of their gardens and outdoor space, John Lewis Home Insurance is today reminding people to make sure that their home insurance covers their property and possessions outside of the home as well as inside it.
John Lewis Home Insurance estimates that last year there were over 11,000 incidents of loss or damage to people’s gardens across the UK. On average the cost of these incidents to the household amounted to £1,169 each.⁽¹⁾
However, out of more than 300 home insurance products currently available, nearly one in 10 (eight per cent) do not offer protection for your garden or the items you keep within it, meaning that many homeowners may have found themselves without essential cover for their belongings.⁽²⁾
John Lewis Home Insurance offers up to £5,000 worth of cover for contents in the garden, including plants, barbecues, ornaments, garden furniture and tools.
John Brady, Head of Insurance at John Lewis Home Insurance, said: “When the summer comes, the home becomes a wonderful hub of activity both inside and outside. The garden is a natural extension of the home and, as such, it’s normal for people to assume that it will be protected under their insurance. Sadly the reality is that some policies will not actually give people that essential peace of mind.
“There is a tendency to undervalue the contents of a garden, from the plants and trees, to the contents of the shed and the outdoor furniture. That value also tends to increase in the summer months. For instance we have already seen a 231 per cent increase in sales of premium  barbecues at John Lewis this year and we have seen a 43 per cent year on year uplift in garden furniture sales as people prepare for the sunshine. If people took time to consider the cost of the possessions they keep in the garden, they may just surprise themselves”.⁽³⁾
Theft is one of the most common reasons, related to the garden, as to why people contacted their insurance provider last year. It is estimated that there are as many as 5,400 garden thefts each year.
John Brady, Head of Insurance at John Lewis Home Insurance offers his top tips on keeping your garden secure this summer:

• Fix a good quality lock or padlock on the door of the shed, as well as any garden gates.
• Lock belongings in the shed overnight after use (i.e. barbecues, bicycles etc.), items left in the garden may not be covered for theft.
• Install automatic security lighting in the garden.
• A prickly hedge around the garden can help to deter intruders.

People can find out more about the service by visiting www.johnlewis-insurance.com or by calling 0330 102 2742.