# DP-P06-H-V: We put a new shed and a trampoline in the garden. Do we need to tell our house insurer, and are they covered?

Collected 11 October 2026

[Home and contents insurance study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/insurance/home-contents-insurance)

## ChatGPT

Answer ID: 7e923086-a233-459a-bf55-f1da846a5c73

In New Zealand, it’s a good idea to tell your house insurer about both the new shed and the trampoline. Whether they’re covered depends on your insurer, your policy wording, and how the shed is constructed and used.

There are two separate things to check: whether your policy covers damage to the new items themselves, and whether it covers accidents or damage involving the trampoline.

## 1. Is the shed covered?

Usually, a permanent garden shed may be covered.

Many NZ house policies include outbuildings such as sheds and garages. For example, AA Insurance expressly includes these in its definition of the insured home. However, temporary structures and some types of sheds may be excluded. [Home Insurance Policy](https://www.aainsurance.co.nz/manage-policy/policy-documents/home-insurance-policy-document)[Houseowners](https://www.nzi.co.nz/content/dam/insurance-brands-nz/nzi/nz/en/documents/nzi/home/nzi-home-householders-home-insurance-pw-nz742-11-0214.pdf)

- Check whether your policy covers the shed's construction and replacement value.
- Tell your insurer if it is a new structure, particularly if it has increased the cost of rebuilding your property.
- Ask whether your house's sum insured needs to increase.

## 2. Is the trampoline covered?

Don't assume the trampoline is covered.

A trampoline is generally a movable recreational item rather than a permanent building. Whether it is insured may depend on your contents policy, if you have one, and its exclusions.

- Damage to the trampoline: Check whether your contents policy covers it against events such as storms, theft or accidental damage.
- Injuries to visitors: Ask whether your policy's personal or legal liability cover applies if someone is injured using it, and whether any trampoline-specific conditions apply.

## 3. What should you do now?

The Insurance Council of New Zealand recommends telling your insurer about relevant changes to your property and checking whether improvements affect your cover. Not disclosing information your insurer requires can affect a future claim. [Duty of Disclosure: What to Tell Your Insurer](https://www.icnz.org.nz/individuals/consumer-guides/things-you-need-to-tell-your-insurer/)[House & Contents Insurance: Sum Insured Explained](https://www.icnz.org.nz/individuals/house-contents/)

Contact your insurer and ask these three questions:

1. Is my new garden shed covered for its full replacement cost, including storm and natural hazard damage?
2. Is my trampoline covered under my house or contents policy, and what exclusions apply?
3. Do I need to update my sum insured or meet any safety requirements for the trampoline?

You can also read the [Insurance Council of New Zealand's guidance on what to tell your insurer](https://www.icnz.org.nz/individuals/consumer-guides/things-you-need-to-tell-your-insurer/).

## I can help you check your specific cover

Which insurance company are you with? For example, AMI, State, AA Insurance, Tower or another provider.

If you tell me the insurer, I can look up its current policy wording to help establish what's covered for both the shed and the trampoline.

## Gemini

Answer ID: 853e6cff-cf34-4411-91ac-fe4b75584019

Adding a new shed and a trampoline to your property is an exciting backyard upgrade, but it does affect your insurance position. In New Zealand, how these are covered depends heavily on their value, whether they are fixed in place, and how your specific policy defines outbuildings. 

---

### 1. Do you need to tell your house insurer?

* **The Short Answer:** It is strongly recommended—and often a requirement—to let them know, especially if the shed adds significant value to your property. 
* **The Sum Insured Factor:** Most New Zealand house insurance policies operate on a "sum insured" basis (the total estimated cost to rebuild your home and its outbuildings if they were completely destroyed). If you add a costly or large permanent shed, it increases the total replacement value of your property. If you don't factor it into your sum insured, you risk being underinsured.
* **The Trampoline Factor:** Trampolines are generally viewed as movable personal property rather than structural additions, so they rarely require an update to your house sum insured. However, adding high-risk play equipment can sometimes impact liability or contents details.

---

### 2. Are they covered?

Whether they are covered depends on how they are classified under your policy:

| Item | How it is typically covered | Key things to watch out for |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Garden Shed** | **House (Building) or Contents Insurance:** <br>• *Permanently fixed* or built-in sheds usually fall under your **House Insurance** as an outbuilding.<br>• *Portable or small free-standing* sheds that can be easily moved might sometimes fall under **Contents Insurance**. | • **Building Consent:** If the shed required a building consent under local council rules (e.g., if it's over a certain size or has plumbing/electricity) and doesn't have one, insurers may decline a claim.<br>• **Contents inside:** The tools or gear *inside* the shed are typically protected by your *Contents* insurance, not your House policy. |
| **Trampoline** | **Contents Insurance:** <br>Because trampolines are movable and not permanently attached to the land, they are generally classified as outdoor items under a **Contents Insurance** policy rather than House insurance. | • **Storm Damage & Liability:** If a heavy windstorm picks up your trampoline and throws it into your fence or your neighbor's property, your contents or house liability cover usually handles the resulting damage. It is wise to anchor it down securely to prevent this. |

---

### Recommended Next Steps

1. **Check your policy wording** or give your insurer a quick call to let them know about the new shed. 
2. **Review your total sum insured** to ensure the value of the shed is accounted for so you aren't caught out by underinsurance.
3. **Check your contents policy** to verify that outdoor items and any valuable tools stored in the shed are adequately covered.

Would you like to know what specific details New Zealand insurers usually look for when calculating a home sum insured?

## AI Overviews

Answer ID: 5f189618-b0a3-4816-ae0f-468888cf19a8

**Yes, you should notify your insurer** about both items to ensure you are fully protected, as they fall under different sections of your insurance policy and can affect your overall coverage limits.

The breakdown below outlines how New Zealand insurers typically handle sheds and trampolines, along with the immediate actions you should take:

Insurance Coverage Breakdown

Item| Insurance Policy Type| Coverage Rules & Sub-Limits| Do You Need to Tell Them?
---|---|---|---
**New Shed**| **House Insurance** _(as an "Outbuilding")_| **Permanently fixed sheds** are typically covered under your main house policy as outbuildings. However, **removable/kitset sheds** may sometimes fall under your contents insurance. Insurers often place a value cap (e.g., $10,000) on outbuildings unless specified otherwise.| **Yes.** You must ensure your total **Sum Insured** (the maximum your policy pays to rebuild your property) is high enough to include the cost of the new shed.
**Trampoline**| **Contents Insurance** _(as "Contents in the Open")_| Trampolines are treated as personal property kept outdoors. They are subject to your policy's "unfixed items" or **"garden contents" sub-limits** , which are usually much lower than standard indoor contents limits.| **Yes.** You need to verify that your contents policy doesn't explicitly exclude trampolines and that your "contents in the open" limit covers its replacement value.

* * *

Key Legal & Policy Conditions in New Zealand

 * **Domestic Use Only:** The shed is only covered under a standard residential policy if it is used strictly for **domestic purposes** (e.g., storing tools or a lawnmower). If you run a business out of it or place it on a commercial/lifestyle block, it requires a different type of cover.

 * **Building Consents:** While many standard garden sheds in NZ do not require a formal building consent, your insurance policy requires the structure to comply with all local council regulations and building exemptions to remain valid.

 * **Liability Risks:** If a severe Kiwi storm catches your trampoline and throws it into a neighbor's house or car, your **Legal Liability** (usually included in your contents or house policy) will handle the third-party damage—provided the insurer knows you have it and it was reasonably secured.

 * **Theft Requirements:** Most NZ insurers require that any tools or items stored inside the new shed are only covered against theft if the shed is **fitted with a lock** and shows signs of forced entry.

* * *

📋 Recommended Next Steps

 1. **Calculate the new values:** Work out the total replacement cost of the shed and the trampoline.

 2. **Contact your provider:** Phone your insurer or log into your online portal to update your **House Sum Insured** amount to reflect the added value of the shed.

 3. **Secure the trampoline:** Ensure the trampoline is properly anchored to the ground to mitigate storm risk, as failing to take reasonable care can prejudice future claims.

## Google AI Mode

Answer ID: 7884829e-8c7b-4234-96da-9539df4a0b27

Adding a new shed and a trampoline changes your property setup, so it is wise to understand how New Zealand insurers handle them:

Do you need to tell your insurer?

 * * **The Shed:** Whether you need to declare it depends on its size, value, and permanence. Small, unattached, movable kitset sheds often fall under general outbuilding or contents definitions. However, if it is a large, high-value, permanently built, or plumbed/wired structure (or if it significantly increases your total property rebuilding/sum insured value), you should notify your provider and check if it affects your house sum insured. Crucially, if the shed required a building consent under local council rules, insurers generally expect it to be legally compliant.

 * **The Trampoline:** You typically **do not** need to proactively call your insurer just to log that you bought a standard trampoline, as it is considered movable outdoor equipment/recreational gear rather than a structural change to your home.

 *

Are they covered?

 * * **The Shed (Home vs. Contents Cover):**
 * Permanently fixed outbuildings and structural sheds are usually covered under your **House (Building) Insurance** policy.
 * Small, free-standing, or portable sheds that can be easily removed may sometimes fall under your **Contents Insurance** or standard outbuilding sub-limits. Make sure your total sum insured reflects their value.

 * **The Trampoline (Contents Cover & Liability):**
 * A trampoline is generally considered outdoor personal property, meaning damage _to_ the trampoline itself (e.g., from a storm) would fall under your **Contents Insurance** policy (if you hold one), subject to your policy's excess and storm/sudden damage definitions.
 * If a massive gust of wind picks up your trampoline and damages your neighbour’s fence, car, or roof, your **Contents Insurance** liability cover can often step in to help cover that accidental damage. (Tip: Always tie down or anchor your trampoline securely ahead of severe weather warnings, as insurers look closely at whether preventable steps were taken).

 *

If you'd like, let me know:

 * **How big or expensive** the shed is (and whether it’s permanent/fixed)
 * **Which insurance company** you are with

I can help you check their specific guidelines regarding outbuildings and outdoor gear.