Average UK Home Needs £24k Of Repairs, But Britons Just Can’t Afford It

Recent research has revealed just how extreme the disrepair of UK homes is, with the average homeowner confessing that their property would require an estimated spend of £24,200 in order to be considered in good, working order.

The poll of 2,581 respondents, all of whom were British homeowners who had lived in their property for at least 5 years and also housed a child in the property, was conducted by the team at trade comparison site, www.myjobquote.co.uk.

They found that over half of homes in the UK (51%) feature ‘potentially dangerous risks’. Faulty electrics and outdated plumbing systems were the most common problems, featuring in 24% and 16% of homes respectively, and only one in ten respondents said that they had ‘no repair requirements at all’ (11%).

Homeowners are suffering for the state of their houses too, as 29% admitted that they had tripped or fallen over due to the repairs needed, 24% had experienced items such as shelving or furniture falling on them and 17% had sustained an electric shock; while a further 7% had actually fallen through floorboards.

Although Britons are clearly struggling in their homes, when asked why they don’t get these problems fixed, three in four (74%) stated that they just can’t afford the cost of the repairs, and therefore continue to live at risk in their own homes. A further 18%, however, confessed that they are simply waiting for someone else in the household to sort it out.

Lisa Evans, from www.myjobquote.co.uk, commented: “This is a really serious matter. Our houses are a huge cost to us, but it seems many of us forget that the expenses don’t end after that month’s mortgage payment.

“Maintaining a home is a big responsibility and commitment, and one which it seems the majority of us just cannot afford. It can be very difficult to make ends meet when raising a family, but keeping a safe roof over your head has to be treated as a priority.

“Faulty wiring and dodgy plumbing can be life threatening, so it’s essential that British homes are maintained to a safe standard.”