Gardens can affect home insurance premiums

Homeowners have been advised that their garden may increase the price of their house insurance.

Senior citizens' organisation Saga has warned that many pieces of garden furniture may be in demand from thieves and need to be covered under home insurance.

While the majority of your garden's contents may be insured under typical policy, other more expensive items, such as barbeques, ornaments and patio heaters, may not be covered as standard.

"Even the more modest garden furniture sets can cost hundreds and whilst many policies…do provide cover as standard it is important for people to check to ensure their cover truly reflects the value of their set," said director of Saga, John Potter.

Mr Potter further advised that an extended policy should be taken if not all items were insured, saying: "One of the primary reasons for taking out extended garden cover would be to cover plants, including shrubs, trees, vegetables and hedges, as these are often not covered under a standard home insurance contents policy."

Over one million people in the UK each spent around £150 a year on plants in 2006-07, according to the Target Group Index.

06/09/2007 13:25:58