UK homeowners are nearly £2,000 out of pocket – from failing to do household maintenance

The avoidable ‘cash leaks’ that are costing £1,885 on average including servicing boilers, fixing leaks, and unclogging gutters, according to research.

A study of 2,000 UK homeowners found one in four are avoiding spending money on, fixing, servicing and safety checking any of their appliances – until the worst happens and they are no longer able to use them.

Many are failing to carry out the essential home maintenance jobs that are typically prioritised for the spring months, resulting in UK homeowners losing an estimated £6.8 billion unnecessarily.

More than one in five (21 per cent) admit to having avoided tackling regular home maintenance tasks, which have ended up costing them more in the long run.

Over 15 per cent of homeowners who have experienced the ‘cash leaks’ in the home have been left out of pocket by more than £5,000.

The research was commissioned by Gas Safe Register, which revealed the top jobs homeowners are avoiding and how much it’s cost to fix in the long run.

The necessary checks

Almost two in 10 (19 per cent) fail to tackle clearing damp or mould, which could cost them £850 on average, rather than £225 if they had fixed the issue sooner.

A quarter have avoided fixing a leaking toilet, which, according to Checkatrade, can cost between £40 and £60 per hour to repair – but could lead to an average of £2,000 if the leak is major and you need a water extraction.

Checking the roof for loose tiles and leaking taps (19 per cent) also made the top five most avoided tasks – with costs increasing from £300 to over £7,500 and £0 to up to £1,500 respectively.

Tv presenter and financial adviser Emmanuel Asuquo has teamed up with Gas Safe Register to warn homeowners of the false economy – as well as the safety implications of not tackling regular maintenance jobs in time.

Emmanuel Asuquo said:

“More than ever, people are looking for ways to save money with the ongoing cost of living crisis, and there are definitely quick and easy ways to do this – from reducing your gas and electricity consumption to thinking smart when it comes to food shopping.

“But, avoiding tackling regular home maintenance jobs can really turn out to be a false economy, costing homeowners so much more in the long run.”

Emmanuel continued:

“One thing we tackled at our house when we moved in two years ago, was getting our gas boiler safety and serviced checked straight away.

“Once we had a Gas Safe Registered engineer carry out the necessary checks, the results were instant – our house now heats up much quicker and stays warmer for longer, so we don’t need the heating on all the time.

“The engineer advised us to turn down our boiler thermostat, and it meant that our gas and electricity bill went down by 20 per cent!”

Regular maintenance checks

The results also found men (26 per cent) to be the main ‘cash leaks culprits’ and are more likely to put off tackling maintenance jobs around the home than women (17 per cent).

In fact, almost a quarter of men (21 per cent) have ended up paying out over £2,000 to rectify issues in their home that they’ve put off – compared to just eight per cent of women.

It almost emerged that homeowners in Northern Ireland have ended forking out the most be putting off these jobs (42 per cent), while those in Greater London (38 per cent) and those in the North East follow close behind (29 per cent).

Emmanuel said:

“I’ve teamed up with Gas Safe Register to help households to be confident with the simple ways in which they can save money around the home – and by following all the tips to avoid ‘cash leaks’ in your home this spring, you can accumulate savings £495 a year in household cash.

“That’s more than enough to cover your annual gas safety check, which is in average between £80-£100. The costs can be high if repairs or replacements are needed, but you can’t put a price on the health and safety of your loved ones.”

Further research revealed only a third of homeowners knew that house fires can occur from not having gas appliances safety checked annually.

And just under half can correctly identify the physical indicators of carbon monoxide poisoning that come from unsafe and, or unchecked gas appliances – such as collapsing and developing nausea.

However, experts recommend homeowners to get all gas appliances regularly maintained, services and safety checked on an annual basis.

Adopt the right routine

Almost half (45 per cent) are more likely to try to find a makeshift solution to a home maintenance issue rather than calling out an expert tradesperson – as it would cost more money.

Households are urged to use registered professionals to see to their issues, to avoid risks of invalidated home insurances and warranties, and possible injuries.

Head of Professions and Field Services and Gas Safe Register, Rob Denman said: “With the cost of living rising across the country, including higher energy bills, there is no denying that we’re all feeling the financial squeeze.

“But, much like with our health, prevention is better than cure when it comes to gas safety and keeping you covered for the unexpected.

“Boilers are among one of the most important appliances within our homes, as it keeps us warm when it’s most needed – so it’s most important that we stay on top of their upkeep.

“A regularly serviced boiler not only keeps it working efficiently, helping reduce bills, but can also reduce the risk of gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning – keeping you and your loved ones safe.

“Many engineers get busier in the autumn and winter months when central heating within homes is turned on, and at a time when badly maintained boilers throw up problems.

“By booking in your annual boiler service now, to detect early signs of wear and tear, replace any faulty parts and help keep it well maintained before it will be in constant use again this autumn, you can minimise disruption to your household.

“That’s why we want to encourage homeowners to adopt a routine of keeping on top of home maintenance, including ensuring they have peace of mind by considering booking their annual boiler service with a Gas Safe registered engineer.”

TOP TIPS FOR AVOIDING ‘CASH LEAKS’ IN THE HOME THIS SPRING:

1. Switch to frozen food: A good way to save money and cut down your food bill is to switch to frozen foods like fruit and vegetables, it avoids wastage and has a longer shelf life than fresh food – saving up to £80 a year.

2. Get organised: Planning your meals in advance can save you up to £200 a year. Asking your child/children to help plan can make them feel involved, whilst teaching them the value of food, meaning no extra spending and less waste – WIN WIN.

3. Get an annual gas safety check and service: A regular serviced boiler means it will run more efficiently and help save on bills, but also reduces the risk of gas and carbon monoxide leaks to keep you and your loved ones safe.

4. Turn off standby: You can save around £65 a year just by remembering to turn your appliances off standby mode.

5. Ditch the tumble dryer: By drying clothes on racks inside where possible, or outside in warmer weather, you could save around £70 a year.

6. Turn the tap off: Don’t leave the tap running when you’re brushing your teeth, or washing dishes (use a washing bowl). This can reduce water usage and save you around £80 a year for a family of 4.

7. Load up: Try and do a big load of laundry (combine your laundry) every time you have to do a wash, rather than small loads frequently.

8. Ditch the bath: Encourage your household to take showers rather than baths – this can drastically reduce your water usage. Try setting a timer for 5 mins to make sure the kids don’t take too long in the shower.

Gas Safe Register is the official list of gas businesses registered to work safely and legally on boilers, cookers, fires and all other gas appliances. For more information, visit here