Garden buildings and their contents are often treated differently from the house in a home insurance policy. Before you put a television, a fridge and a few hundred pounds of glassware in a shed at the end of the garden, read the policy or ask the insurer.
Questions to ask your insurer
- Is the building covered? Some buildings policies include outbuildings; some limit or exclude them.
- Are contents in outbuildings covered, and is there a lower limit than for the house?
- What security is required? Many policies set conditions on locks for outbuildings. If you do not meet them, a claim may be affected.
- Is accidental damage included, or an optional extra?
- Does the policy cover liability if a guest is injured at your home?
- Do you need to tell them about a new building, electrics or a change in how the garden is used?
Record the answers, with the date and the name of the person you spoke to, or get them in writing.
Security conditions
Look out for wording about locks on outbuilding doors and windows. A good padlock and hasp, or a proper door lock, may be needed. Our garden bar security guide covers practical steps.
Keep evidence of what is inside
Photograph the bar and its contents and keep receipts for larger items. It makes any claim easier and helps you check whether the total exceeds the outbuildings limit.
Hosting and liability
Having friends round is a normal domestic activity, but injuries can still happen. Keep paths lit, steps marked and the bar uncluttered. If you plan anything beyond normal hosting, such as charging for entry or selling drinks, the insurance question changes along with the licensing one. Read the home bar licence guide.
Electrical work and certification
Keep the paperwork from any electrical installation in the bar. An insurer may ask about electrical work after a fire or water damage claim, and certification shows it was done properly. See power to a garden bar.
This is general information
We cannot tell you what your policy covers. Every insurer and policy is different, and terms change. The policy documents and a direct question to your insurer are the places to start. If you later disagree with a decision, the Financial Ombudsman Service explains how home insurance complaints are handled.
Pull out the policy wording tonight and search for "outbuilding". It will take five minutes and may save a nasty surprise later.
Sources
Primary guidance checked 10 November 2026.