Britons are being warned against the potential cost of damages caused by Bonfire Night celebrations.
AA Insurance estimates that £5.7 billion worth of property in the UK is outside in people’s gardens. However, a quarter of Britons have no insurance for sheds, greenhouses, garden furniture and the like.
Every year, the insurance provider receives insurance claims for greenhouse glass smashed by rockets and garden sheds set alight by sparklers.
AA Insurance estimates that £810 million worth of uncovered property could go up in flames this weekend as Britons celebrate Guy Fawkes.
“The garden is an increasingly central part of our living space, all year round, but we have a worryingly cavalier attitude towards insuring the property outside our homes,” warns Kevin Sinclair, managing director of AA Insurance.
He urges people to ensure they have adequate insurance cover for their outdoor property, especially as “Guy Fawkes celebrations wreak havoc in gardens across the country”.
AA Insurance is urging people to check their insurance policies to ensure they have accidental damage cover.
Insurance policies should also state whether the garden shed and its contents are included in the insurance policy, the insurance provider points out.
“Don’t forget you may get a cheaper premium by moving to a different insurer – some, including the AA, will pay any exit fee your insurer might charge,” Mr Sinclair concludes.