Shedding light on your outbuildings insurance!

Since the arrival of Covid, outbuildings, summer houses, and sheds have taken centre stage with many being repurposed from housing rusty trowels and redundant terracotta pots to become an additional and functional working space. Sheds have stepped into the limelight as they are renovated into home offices, children’s playrooms, home gyms or leisure-spaces for yoga, movies or hobbies.

Shed suppliers have seen booming trade for the past year with some UK based firms seeing a 300% ¹ jump in demand for garden structures that can double for a home office. Many homeowners have added power and insulation to their summer houses and with 57% ² of home buyers looking for a separate space to work from home, it’s an expenditure which can be seen as a positive investment to your home.

Outbuildings insurance is an essential consideration if you’re looking to protect structures outside your main property, such as garages, sheds, greenhouses, or workshops. These structures are typically covered under standard home insurance policies, but it is important to confirm the specifics with your provider.

Safety First

If your shed is now loaded with technology, be it your work computer and printer or home cinema equipment, what changes, if any, do you need to make to your home security and insurance? Or if your shed is being used as it was originally intended, as a shelter for your BBQ and lawnmower, what security measures can be put in place to make your items less attractive to thieves?

Padlocks

Having a strong padlock is essential to keeping your shed safe but be sure to pay attention to the hasp too. Many padlock hasps are affixed with screws which can be an easy hack for a potential burglar. Similarly, hinges on the outside of doors can also be unscrewed. Top tips include using longer screws which have nuts on the inside which can be superglued for extra safety.

Windows

Unfortunately, windows can be a weak point in the security of your outbuildings. Window locks can be a useful addition in your home office, along with blinds or curtains to obscure visibility from prying eyes. Of course, if your shed is purely used for storage, then you don’t need windows at all and you could block them out completely. You could strengthen the area by affixing a sheet of strong MDF on the inside of the window.

Heightened Security

Alarms, motion sensors and CCTV cameras can all be installed as a preventative measure to deter potential thieves. Wireless and battery-operated options are available if your outbuildings are not on mains electricity.