Whether there’s a tool shed at the end of a driveway, or a greenhouse in the garden, you usually don’t have to look far to find an outbuilding in the UK.
However, as with any part of your property, they need protection and maintenance, especially during winter. Accidents can also happen, and we might not always think about protecting what’s outside the home.
Here’s some of the more popular types of outbuildings and what you can do to keep them in great shape:
- What is considered an outbuilding?
- The difference between outbuildings and extensions
- What can you do to take care of your outbuildings?
- The kind of insurance you need for outbuildings
- What can result in higher insurance costs or no cover?
What is considered an outbuilding?
An outbuilding is any structure that’s part of your property but isn’t attached to the main building. You’ll typically find them in the garden or at the end of a driveway.
There are many types of outbuildings, including:
- Sheds
- Greenhouses
- Detached garages
- Garden offices
- Sauna/hot tub cabins
- Summer houses
The difference between outbuildings and extensions
If the structure is attached to the main building, then it is considered part of the main house.
Builds such as extensions and conservatories are still part of your house. The building has to be physically separated from the main home to be considered an outbuilding.
The difference between outbuildings and extensions is whether or not the structure is physically attached to your home. However, it’s always best to be clear to any insurer about what you do have as part of your home.
What can you do to take care of your outbuilding?
As with any building, outbuildings need care and maintenance – especially during the winter months.
Keeping on top of your outbuilding maintenance will not only help with its longevity and keep it safe.
Here are a few of the more common ways in which you can keep your outbuilding safe and secure:
- Look after the roof – this can be repairing any flaws or completely upgrading to a more robust material. An effective roof will help stop rain or snow getting in. It can also stop things like rot, which is especially important for wooden structures.
- Exterior treatments – if you do have a wooden structure, applying a protective treatment will help keep the inside dry and stop the wood warping, causing potential structural issues.
- Guttering – guttering is vital for any building, but it is particularly important for wooden structures. They’ll help keep the rain away from the building walls and help stop any rot or damage.
- Plug any gaps – filling in the gaps around the door or any windows will also help with protection. Using a foam or silicone filler will help keep the weather outside and the heat inside.
- Insulation – if your outbuilding is somewhere you spend a lot of time, you may want to apply insulation to help make it more comfortable to be in.
- Security – It's important to keep your outbuilding protected from damage or theft. Make sure any windows are closed, and the doors are locked.
The kind of insurance you need for outbuildings
At AXA, we know that many of these outbuildings aren’t just structures in the garden – they’re part of your home.
That’s why outbuildings are covered as standard as part of our buildings insurance, and its contents are covered with our contents insurance offering. However, the cover you have will depend on what type of policy you have with us.
Our buildings insurance cover extends to outbuildings, protecting it against floods, fires and storms.
All of our home insurance policies cover the contents of your outbuildings, with varying levels of protection.
AXA Home Insurance insures contents for up to £2,500, while AXA Plus Home Insurance and AXA Premier Home Insurance products have a higher limit of up to £5,000.
Accidental damage is included as standard with AXA Premier Home Insurance, and you can add it as an optional extra with AXA Plus Home Insurance and AXA Home Insurnace.
How can I secure my outbuilding?
- Maintenance – it’s essential to keep any building in a good state of repair
- No security – if your outbuilding doesn’t have any locks or alarms, this could make it a target to thieves
- Displaying valuables – if you have expensive items on display through a window, such as a computer in a garden office, this can also make it a target.
- Non-regulation builds – certain criteria needs to be met to build without planning permission
- Not on your property – if you live adjacent to a field or unused land and build off your property grounds, this will not be covered by your policy unless it is included as part of your property’s deeds
Just because an outbuilding isn’t attached to your house doesn’t mean it’s not part of your home. Showing it the same care as the rest of the home will keep it in good shape and protect it from damage or winter weather.
We know that accidents happen and that no one can predict the unexpected. With AXA Home Insurance, we’ll help make sure that your outbuilding feels as safe as your home does. Get a quote today.
