08th April 2021

Homeowners plan £7.6 billion garden spending spree to celebrate the Great British summer this year^{1  2}

Around 1 in 3 (36%) wrongly assume their home insurance covers garden items, and 38% don’t consider their gardens when getting a quote¹

6 March 2021, London: Ahead of the first May Bank Holiday and with us able to entertain in our gardens once again, UK households are predicted to splash £7.6 billion¹ on garden purchases according to new research from Sainsbury’s Bank. Worryingly, many homeowners are leaving their garden belongings underinsured.

71% of homeowners consider their outside space more important since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic over 12 months ago, and 70% plan to use their gardens, terraces and balconies more while foreign travel remains uncertain this year. ¹

The 15 million UK homeowners with outside space plan to spend an average of £597 this year kitting out their gardens with furniture, plants, cooking appliances and other electricals. This is a £294 uplift compared to the average annual garden purchases of £303, equating to over £3.7 billion more being spent on outside spaces in 2021 than in previous years. ²

This expected garden spending spree is supported by data from Argos, which sold four times as many items of garden furniture in the first quarter of 2021 versus the same period in 2020. While garden maintenance items were the top selling products at Argos within the garden category in the first quarter of 2020, garden entertaining items dominated the top selling Argos products in 2021, with patio heaters sales increasing ten-fold as families prepare to entertain outdoors this May and into summer. ³

Pots and plants top the planned purchases with 49% looking to add colour to their gardens.  29% are keen to buy outside seating for dining, socialising and relaxing, and 27% are looking for lighting, perhaps to look forward to warmer summer evenings.  24% plan to buy a barbecue and 18% plan to buy a shed for storage.  A further 9% are looking for a summer house or outside building, potentially as a home office with flexible working set to stay for many. ¹

Households with children under 18 are planning to spend an average of £668 this year, while homeowners in Edinburgh and Newcastle are predicted to spend the most with an average of £702 and £743 respectively.  In contrast residents in Norwich only plan to spend £354 this year. ¹

The top planned purchases:

However, while gardens and outside spaces are increasingly important to homeowners, many do not consider home insurance coverage for their new purchases, which means items are not covered if damaged accidentally, impacted by a fire or stolen. While 72% of respondents already have building and contents insurance, only 45% know if their home insurance includes cover for garden items such as furniture, barbecues and fire pits. 1 in 3 (36%) wrongly assume their home insurance would cover garden items, and 38% don’t even consider their gardens when getting a quote.  This is despite two thirds (67%) of people reporting that they have been a victim of a garden-related incident such as fire, theft or weather damage which could be claimed on building or contents insurance, with weather damage the most common cause at 28%. ¹

Data from Defaqto⁴ shows that only 27% of home insurance policies include contents in the open over £2,500 and just 29% include garden plants over £2,500.  Sainsbury’s Bank Home Plus Insurance covers both.  Its products include standalone buildings insurance, standalone contents insurance, or a combined policy.  In addition, new customers who have a Nectar card can get a discount on their home insurance, as well as earning double Nectar points on their fuel and shopping.⁵

Jason King, Customer Director at Sainsbury’s Bank, commented: “Homeowners are pretty good at estimating the value of their household items when they look at their insurance policies, but it’s surprising to see so many are not considering their garden items as part of this. Not all home insurance policies are the same so it’s important to check and shop around for the right cover. At Sainsbury’s Bank we provide cover for gardens through our Home Plus insurance, which includes plants and things left in the open giving peace of mind when enjoying your summer ready outdoor spaces.”

Sainsbury’s Bank Home Insurance provide quotes from a panel of home insurers and rewards Nectar Card holders with a guaranteed discount on their insurance premium⁵.  Sainsbury’s Bank’s home insurance products have been given a 5-star rating by Defaqto in 2021, meaning they are considered one of the highest quality offerings in the market^6.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Sainsbury’s Bank press office 0131 286 0010 / bank_communications@sainsburys.co.uk

Notes to editor:

This press release is information for journalists only and is not intended to be a promotion to be acted upon by consumers.

References:

1.       This research was conducted by Censuswide with 2,001 UK homeowners (aged 18+) who have outdoor space with their property (for example, garden, terrace, balcony or other outside space) between 12^th March 2021 to 15^th March 2021. Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles.

2.       ONS, Welsh Government and Scottish Government data states there are 17.1 million owner occupied dwellings in the UK.  ONS data states that 88% of homes in Britain have access to outside space.  15.24% of survey participants stated they have no plans to make any purchases this year.

3.       Argos sales data for the garden/outdoors category from 1^st January to 28^th February in 2020 and 1^st January to 28^th February 2021.

4.       Defaqto Matrix, data effective as of March 2021

5.       Terms and conditions apply

6.       Sainsbury’s Bank Home and Car Insurance is arranged and administered by Sainsbury’s Bank and is underwritten by a carefully selected range of insurers. When customers get a quote we will tell customers who their insurer is before they buy the policy. Specially selected range of underwriting insurance partners: AXA, Covea, Zurich, Allianz, LV=, Sabre, Markerstudy, RSA, Legal & General, Modus and Prestige. Guaranteed discount for Nectar card holders: The discount is based on information related to you and the transactions you’ve made with Sainsbury’s supermarkets and Sainsbury’s Bank using your Nectar card. For more information go to https://www.sainsburysbank.co.uk/doublenectar

About Sainsbury’s Bank:

To view our latest press releases and product information, please visit the Sainsbury’s Bank online media centre at https://www.about.sainsburys.co.uk/news

Sainsbury's was the first major supermarket to open a bank in the UK in February 1997.  Our range of financial products includes credit cards, savings and loans, as well as travel money, and car, home, pet, travel and life insurance which we provide online and by telephone.  We offer Sainsbury’s shoppers great deals and rewards for choosing to shop and bank with us.

Sainsbury's Bank plc. Registered Office, 33 Holborn, London EC1N 2HT (registered in England and Wales, no 3279730) is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (register no. 184514). Sainsbury's Bank plc is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

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