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Homeowners tempted to cut corners with DIY

A number of homeowners are tempted to cut corners when it comes to DIY property improvement due to stretched budgets, according to a new report.

A survey by TrustMark, a government backed scheme designed to protect property owners from rogue traders and cowboys, has found that 56 per cent of first-time homeowners admit to calling in friends or family to help out with electrical, roofing and plumbing work in their house.

Miles Shipside, the commercial director of property website Rightmove, said that with property prices being so high there was a temptation for homeowners to cut corners.

He said: "Because people are paying a lot of money for their property and their budget is stretched then there is the temptation to get people that you know to do some work for you, and call in a favour.

"What you have to be careful of with certain work is that you get the correct permission, certainly with electricity now."

"So if it came out when they were selling the property that they'd had some work done and they haven't got a certificate, and the work's badly done, then that can damage the property value."

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31/10/2006 09:41:03

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