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Hard-up owners cut spending on home repairs

Tuesday, 21 February 2012 11:26 AM

Hard-up home owners are cutting back their spending and putting their properties at risk of falling into disrepair, according to a survey by the AA's Home Emergency Response Service.

The firm found that over the last year 18.5 million (or 39 per cent) of us have delayed home repairs or maintenance or tried to fix things ourselves in a bid to save money.

Of those, 14 per cent had done DIY work they would previously have hired a tradesman to do. Some eight per cent had delayed having the boiler serviced and four per cent had delayed fixing a leaky roof.

But the delays have left owners with a collective bill of almost £1.2bn, as 21 per cent of those delaying or scrimping on home maintenance have experienced problems or unforeseen costs as a result.

The average cost of putting things right was £398. Only five per cent of those who had unforeseen problems found they were covered by their standard home insurance and only 19 per cent had home emergency policies that covered the cost.

Tom Stringer, head of AA Home Emergency Response, said: "As the struggling economy continues to hit people in the pocket, more and more people are putting off home maintenance and are letting their homes get into a state of disrepair.

"Many homeowners seem to be mirroring the government's drive for austerity but this can be a false economy as problems tend to get worse in the home if you leave them unresolved."

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