DIY disasters cost £331 million

Do it yourself home improvements that go wrong are costing Britons a total of £331 million, a new survey has revealed*.

Over one third (39 per cent) of homeowners are planning to carry out improvements themselves in order to save money in the coming year; however the research indicates that nearly one in five of these people will end up claiming on their home insurance for the damage they have caused. The average claim totals £344.

The 18 – 34 year old groups of ‘DIY-ers’ were found to be the most destructive, causing an average of £2,497 worth of damage to their homes.

Up to 72 per cent of UK homeowners planning on home improvements will opt to do it themselves rather than hire professionals, despite 52 per cent of those surveyed admitting that they would not feel confident performing even a simple task like unblocking their drains.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) advises on its website** that: “Many accidents could be avoided by spending more time on planning and ensuring that safety gear - such as gloves, masks and goggles - is worn when necessary.

“People often make mistakes when they rush jobs or are tired. Many people overestimate their capabilities, for instance gas and electric work should be left to the experts”.

* Survey details found on: http://www.totallymoney.com/news/index.php/2010/04/hidden-costs-of-diy-cause-more-financial-hassle-than-its-worth/
** Further details on accident prevention can be found on RoSPA’s website: http://www.rospa.com/FAQs/Detail.aspx?faq=221