DIY disasters lead to higher insurance premiums

People from the UK are facing debt and higher insurance premiums by attempting to tackle complex building work themselves, a new survey has revealed.

Figures from Confused.com indicated that nearly six million people have had self-inflicted DIY disasters while attempting to carry out work on their property.

Worryingly, one in ten people revealed that the damage was so severe they were forced to claim on their home insurance to cover it, which might mean their premiums will rise in the future.

While men were more likely to cause damage while attempting building work, women''s accidents were shown to be more expensive. The average cost of a male DIY blunder was shown to be £556.36, compared to £758.58 for females.

"The summer often brings out the DIY enthusiast in all of us, but it is important to remember to take safety precautions when undertaking home improvement jobs, however small they may seem," commented Simon Lamble, product director at Confused.com.

"A simple drilling job could turn into an extremely expensive claim if electrical wiring, for example, is not taken into account."

Research from Halifax showed that a growing number of people believed successful DIY projects could add value to their property.