Sheds, garages and home insurance

Based on the name alone, you might think that building insurance only covers the structure of the home you live in. Well, we’ve got good news. Alongside your home, some building insurance policies also include cover for other permanent fixtures on your property, like garages and — you guessed it — sheds.

This means the structure of a permanent shed or garage on your property could be covered for the same insured events your house is covered for, such as:

• fire
• flood and storm
• theft and vandalism
• impact damage (such as damage from fallen tree or a vehicle)
• and more.

Keep in mind, NRMA Insurance doesn’t provide standalone cover for a shed or garage.

If you’re looking to insure the belongings you keep inside your shed or garage, then you might like to consider contents insurance (or a combined home building and contents policy).

Contents insurance helps cover items in your home in the event they’re damaged or destroyed by a policy-listed event, such the ones listed earlier. It can also cover some of the things you keep in your garage or shed. Be sure to check the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for items that may not be covered, such as some watercrafts and certain types of sporting equipment (like ones that require registration).

To help make sure your shed or garage is covered along with your home:

1. Read the PDS for the insurance policy you’re interested in or currently have. This can help you navigate what’s covered and when
   
   
2. When deciding your sum insured, remember to factor in how much it would cost to rebuild your shed/garage (if you want the structure covered), and how much it would cost to replace the items in it (if you want the contents covered)
   
   
3. Speak to your insurer about your shed/garage to make sure you understand the inclusions and limits associated with your cover.

If you use your shed or garage for business purposes, a home insurance policy may not be appropriate or adequate. For information on key considerations for people running a business from home, take a look at our article on home insurance vs business insurance.