DIY Disasters Cost Britons £4.4 Billion[1]a Year

LONDON, April 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Men causing more damage than women

Brits are having to fork out £4.4billion every year for the cost of bodged DIY jobs.

New research from Allianz Your Cover Insurance reveals that over the Easter bank holiday more than a third (36%) of DIY-ers will dust off their paint pots and power drills and get stuck into home improvements. For 10% of Brits DIY will end in disaster and cost them each an average of £166 to put right damage they've caused - from spilling paint to breaking windows.

The study shows household belt tightening has forced Brits to take on more jobs around the home over the last 12 months - but that means more can go wrong. And men are bigger bodgers than women, causing around £30 more damage than their other halves.

Despite being left with a large repair bill, over half (56 %) of Brits rate their DIY skills as either 'good' or 'excellent'.  

Andy James of Allianz Your Cover said: "Our research reveals that nearly a third (29%) of those surveyed have been doing more DIY over the past 12 months and 86% said they couldn't afford to pay professionals or were just trying to save money. Unfortunately a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing so people should check they have adequate insurance to cover DIY damage so it doesn't cost more in the long run."

Brits top five DIY disasters are:

1. Spilling paint/glue (35%)
2. Damaging a wall (29%)
3. Breaking a window (25%)
4. Breaking furniture (23%)
5. Damaging a ceiling (22%)

Brummies are the UK's biggest DIY enthusiasts with two thirds (66%) claiming they enjoy DIY. Despite their enthusiasm West Midlanders are also the most likely to have caused damage to their home thanks to DIY in the last 12 months. The costliest disasters come from East Anglia and Northern Ireland where accidents are costing on average more than £100 to put right.

Andy James continues: "Considering the amount of damage they are causing in the process of DIY, over a quarter (26%) of Brits didn't even consider claiming on their home insurance which could have helped them to cover the cost. A further 30% could have but didn't claim on their insurance and only three in 10 (30%) Brits did decide to claim on their home insurance for DIY damage in the last year. We urge DIY enthusiasts to speak to their insurers to ensure they have the right level of cover in place to avoid their pockets being harder hit should they have a DIY disaster."  

The research also reveals that younger DIY-ers are doing significantly more work around their homes as over a third (37%) of 18 to 24 year olds have taken on more home maintenance over the last year,compared to just 24% of 45 to 54 year olds.

Turning Professional

The poll revealed that DIY lovers are turning professional with nearly a third (29%) of people having been paid to carry out odd jobs for others. In fact 8% of those surveyed said they would change to a job that involved DIY skills if they could.

Brits revealed the the top five jobs they would employ a professional for are:

1. Building e.g. an extension (82%)
2. Large scale electrics (80%)
3. Large scale plumbing (79%)
4. Plastering (76%)
5. Installing something large e.g. shower or bathrom (75%)

Whereas the top five jobs they would do themselves are:

1. Small odd jobs (88%)
2. Painting a room (86%)
3. Putting up shelves (78%)
4. Wallpapering a room (73%)
5. Putting up a decorative feature (61%)

For more information please visit: http://www.YourCoverInsurance.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

A survey of 1000 people aged 18+ was carried out in March 2012 by 72 Point on behalf of Allianz Insurance.

^[1] Brits have caused damage by carrying out DIY 2.63 times in the past 12 months and the average damage cost is £63.30. £63.30 x 2.63 = £166.48.

The amount of peoplee that regularly do DIY in the UK is 21.3million as there were 26.3 million households in the UK in 2011 according to the Office of National Statistics and 81% of those surveyed said they regularly do DIY. 81% of 26.3million = 21.3 million

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/family-demography/families-and-households/2011/stb-families-households.html

£166.48 x 21.3million = £4.4billion

About Allianz

Allianz Insurance is one of the largest general insurers in the UK and part of the Allianz SE Group, the largest property and casualty insurer worldwide. Reassuringly in these uncertain financial times, in July 2011 the Standard and Poor's rating for Allianz Insurance was reaffirmed as AA-with a stable outlook and the rating of Allianz SE was also reaffirmed as AA with a stable outlook.

About Your Cover

Your Cover is a new breed of insurance product, offering cover that customers select to precisely match their own lifestyle and circumstances. Using an easy to use 'Quote and Buy' website, Your Cover makes it simple to design and, obtain a quote, and manage your insurance online.

The result of two years' research involving thousands of insurance buyers, Your Cover is a product from Allianz Insurance plc, which is a part of the global Allianz Group.

Your Cover insurance quotes are available online at http://www.yourcoverinsurance.co.uk.  

SOURCE www.YourCoverInsurance.co.uk