Consumer Corner: From garden furniture to holiday homes what to be aware of this summer with insurance cover

Homeowners with children in Ireland typically have €1,451 worth of garden accessories.

Summer is a time when many people head off on holidays for a couple of weeks. While away from your home, there can be a lot to consider should anything go wrong.

Not only that, but there are many additional factors that will come into play during the summer months — such as what would happen if your barbecue caught on fire and did damage to your property? What if something happened to your expensive garden furniture, or will your home insurance policy be valid if your home is vacant for more than a month?

There’s also the questions around holiday homes and those looking to rent their homes while they are away.

Things might not be as straightforward as you imagine when it comes to insurance for these many things.

Firstly, looking at the garden.

CAN'T AFFORD TO BE COMPLACENT

A survey from Aviva Insurance found that homeowners with children in Ireland typically have €1,451 worth of garden accessories.

Alan Behan, of Aviva Insurance Ireland, says that if you’ve spent any amount of money on your garden accessories, then it would be advisable to check if they are covered under your home insurance policy.

“Not all policies will automatically provide cover for items like garden furniture, which are designed to be kept in the garden on a permanent basis, or where they do so, they may impose a maximum limit on the value they are covered for.

“In addition, Ireland has had its fair share of storms and floods in recent times that can do damage to items in the garden. Homeowners cannot afford to be complacent.”

Paul Walsh, a spokesman for Peopl Insurance, says standard home insurance policies with buildings and contents cover will generally extend to insure your garden and certain outdoor structures — such as decking.

“There are, however, limits to the amount of cover available, as well as exclusions which you need to be aware of. Some insurers will cover items such as garden furniture up to a certain amount if they are stolen or damaged.

“The amount of cover given is usually in the range of €650-€1,500 in any one claim, depending on the policy.

“But they may not cover accidental damage of outdoor furniture.”

Many insurers allow you to upgrade your cover for outdoor items for an additional cost, which would protect you for accidental damage or possibly the full value of your garden furniture.

Bear in mind though that, even if you take this extra cover, it might be a condition of your policy that you securely store or cover expensive items.

Mr Walsh says that barbecue fires are a risk to be mindful of in summer.

“If there’s serious damage to your home as a result of a barbecue fire getting out of control, your home insurance will usually cover the repairs — but only if you’ve ensured your home insurance provides an adequate amount of cover.”

BE VIGILANT

He also says to be vigilant about where you leave your ride-on lawnmower.

“Some home insurers only cover theft of these items if they’re stolen from a locked shed. Even where a home insurer covers the theft of contents left out in the open, there may be a limit to the amount of cover available or there might be a requirement to list these items on your policy.”

For anyone planning a long trip abroad, the head of operations at Gallagher, Geraldine Kelly, says to stay away from social media if you are planning on a long getaway.

“If you plan to be away for two months or more, it’s essential to notify your broker. Some policies may become void if a property is unoccupied for over 30 days. You might need to arrange regular visits to your home or consider unoccupied property insurance.

“Avoid announcing your absence on public social media, as this can inadvertently inform potential burglars that your home is unoccupied.”

Ms Kelly adds that if you are arranging a house sitter or house swap, it’s important to inform your insurance broker as some policies may require additional cover or specific endorsements.

For anyone with a holiday home, they should understand that their primary home insurance policy will generally not cover any damage caused by guests — whether Airbnb’ing a room in your own home or renting out a holiday home to tourists.

“For holiday homes, ensure you have a specialist insurance policy covering risks such as extended periods of vacancy, holiday letting, and potential damages by tenants.

“Regular maintenance checks and security measures — such as alarm systems and surveillance cameras — can mitigate risks and potentially reduce premiums,” Ms Kelly adds.

She also says that you will need adequate cover to protect yourself if a paying guest is injured in, or indeed damages, your property.

“Holiday home insurance or Airbnb insurance should offer adequate cover in such instances, though be sure to check the small print of the policy to ensure you are covered.”