Homeowners leaving repairs due to austerity

An increasing number of homeowners in the UK are putting off doing repairs to their properties, new research from the AA has found.

Approximately 39% of Brits, which equates to 18.5 million people, may be risking more long-term problems as they can't afford to make necessary renovations to their homes.

The Home Emergency Response Scheme found that 14% of respondents have undertaken a DIY job in the last year that they are not qualified to do and would normally have contracted to a tradesman.

Further areas which have been neglected include 8% of people not getting their boiler serviced and 5% failing to have damaged windows replaced.

Such oversights could lead to bigger problems in the future, as things such as boilers can be costly to replace if not properly maintained and leaky windows can lead to water damage.

Tom Stringer, the Head of the AA's Home Emergency Response, said: "We would suggest that apart from keeping up their home maintenance properly, homeowners should look carefully at their home insurance policy and consider a stand-alone home emergency policy for peace of mind if they are not adequately covered."

A recent study found that since the economic downturn the number of people exaggerating their home insurance claims has risen.