Fixtures, which are permanently attached to the property, like (in an outdoor kitchen) built-in shelving, light fixtures and stovetops.
Fittings, which are freestanding and/or not permanently attached. Examples could include desk lamps, coffee tables and fridges.
Home/building insurance can cover your fixtures, contents insurance can cover your fittings. A home and contents insurance can cover both.
Do I have to list my outdoor fixtures and items on my insurance?
Yes. Any outdoor structures, fixtures, and items you want to be covered need to be listed in your home and buildings policy. You'll also have to list the amounts they're insured to make sure you're adequetely compensated if you need to make a claim.
Because home and building insurance and contents insurance cover different things, you'll need to differentiate between permenant fixtures and their contents (including fittings) when you you list them.
What incidents will I be covered for?
With combined home and contents insurance, you can be covered for repair or replacement costs if an outdoor structure and/or its contents are damaged, destroyed or lost because of:
Fire
Flood
Theft
Storm
Impact
Escape of liquid from your plumbing system or water features
Vandalism
Theft
For example, you could be covered if:
A barbeque or outdoor gas stove malfunctioned and caused fire damage
A tree or branch fell and damaged a pergola, outdoor table or garden ornament
An antique statue was stolen from your garden
You'll also have the option to include various add-ons, such as accidental damage insurance, that can broaden your cover.
When won't my outdoor living area be covered by home insurance?
Exclusions to your cover might apply if:
You haven't listed an outdoor structure or item on your home and/or contents policy or you haven't included its full value.
A pet damages an outdoor structure or item.
An outdoor structure or item is damaged or lost because of something that was foreseeable and preventable (e.g. you had a backyard bonfire that got out of hand).
An item in a garden bed is damaged or lost – home and building insurance generally ends where your garden beds start. If you have precious plants you want to insure, you can think about garden insurance.
Renovating your outdoor living area? Don't forget this!
If you're renovating an outdoor area, don't make the common mistake of forgetting to update the relevant maximum insured amounts in your policy so they'll reflect:
The money you've spent on the upgrade
Any new structures to be covered by your building insurance or items to be covered by your contents insurance (e.g. for a new furnished pergola and paved barbeque area)
After pouring money into a renovation, the last thing you want is for the upgraded area to be damaged and then to find you're not covered for its full value because you didn't update your policy.
Keeping the buildings, contents and all-important sums insured in your policy up to date is a key way to get the most out of your insurance.
When you do update your policy, take the opportunity to check whether you could be getting a better deal on your home insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, absolutely. Just make sure the structure and what's in it are listed in your home and/or contents policy, or included in your sum-insured amount.
Again, home and building insurance and contents insurance cover different things. So when you're itemising your outdoor assets, you should – like the insurer – differentiate between permanent fixtures (structural elements) and their contents (including fittings).
A combined building and contents policy can cover the kitchen structure as well as its contents.
Whether it's a pond, fountain or statue, it can be insured just like your other valuables. Just make sure it (and its full value) are listed in your policy.
Home and contents insurance can cover the damage or loss of a water feature because of things like vandalism, theft and storm and impact damage (e.g. from a falling tree or branch).
It could also cover any damage your water feature caused if it happened to go haywire and flood the property.
A heads-up: goldfish, koi and other aquatic friends likely won't be covered.
You can definitely include your barbeque in your home and/or contents policy. The insurance you need might depend on whether it's a built-in (building) or portable (contents) unit. If you have a combined home and contents policy, you can be covered either way.
You just have to make sure they're listed in your home and buildings policy and that you're happy with the amounts they're insured for.
Do that, and if a structure is damaged in a storm or by a falling tree, you can be covered.
Your home and contents insurance can also cover more or less anything of value you might keep in these structures (e.g. outdoor furniture, potted plants, cooking equipment).
Jessica Prasida brings a decade of experience in the travel industry, including over four years as a travel agent and branch manager at STA Travel. She holds a Bachelor of Business and a Master of Marketing from the University of Technology, Sydney, as well as a Tier 1 General Insurance qualification that complies with ASIC guidelines. An avid traveller herself, Jessica combines her professional expertise with a passion for ensuring safe and enjoyable journeys for all travellers. Jessica was a Travel Insurance Publisher at Finder from 2019 to 2024. See full bio
With a background in writing across education, Web3, and finance, Cameron’s mission is to create content that speaks directly to readers in a way that’s easy to understand, helping them navigate complex topics with confidence. Cameron studied a Bachelor of Commerce, Economics and Marketing at Macquarie University, graduating in 2019. See full bio
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