At last we have some summer weather and it’s time to dig out the barbecue and head outdoors.

But charred chicken and burnt bangers aren’t the only thing to watch out for as you enjoy some al fresco dining.

According to Which? the number of thefts from outside your property has seen a massive jump in the past year.

And that prompts me to ask you, is your outside property insured?

We all take for granted that our TV, computer and all the rest will be insured inside our home, but do we ever consider the barbecues, furniture and toys we have on the lawn and the lawn mower, power drill and mountain bikes we keep in the shed, garage or porch?

Quoting a survey by John Lewis Home Insurance, Which? says incidents of theft from outside people’s homes rose by almost a quarter from 483,000 in 2017 to 595,000 in 2018.

A startling 67% of British people, according to Which? never insure items outside of their home – some £24bn worth of good left uninsured.

Many home insurance policies will cover items outside your home, in your garden, shed, garage and greenhouse, for example, but it is always worth checking that yours does.

It is also worth finding out what level of cover is provided? Does it cover you for everything you have?

You’d be surprised at the value of some of the property you keep outside. The average British garden and shed has around £1,270 worth of items in it and many have a lot more.

You might think that the thieves would only be interested in your bikes, power tools and furniture, but they also take plants, play equipment, barbecues and even your garden gnomes!

It is worth checking the terms and conditions of your policy to see that you’re covered. With some insurers, property left outside is an add-on to the standard policy. Some require you to take precautions, like locking up your bikes, otherwise they won’t pay out.

With my customers I always go through an insurance checklist to make sure we cover everything they need and find a policy that suits them. That’s a service that comparison websites don’t do so well. I also shop around to get a good deal.

So before you get out your sun lounger, just dig out that home and contents insurance policy and read it through – or better still, bring it in to me and I’ll do it for you. Then you can relax.

For a free, no obligation discussion on any insurance or mortgage-related issue, please give me a call on 01723 384558 or 07767 692 653 or email me at mgrayshan@googlemail.com