According to new research from independent inspection body, RISA, UK homeowners are currently set to spend £40.2bn on making improvements to their property in 2022, with 66% admitting there are things about their house they’d like to change and 41% planning to make changes to their property this year.
Of those who are set to make improvements, 52% plan to splash out on cosmetic changes, such as giving their home a fresh lick of paint or replacing their carpets, while 34% hope to renovate their kitchen and 31% plan to renovate their bathroom.
Top 10 home improvements of 2022
1: Cosmetic changes (i.e., fresh paint, new carpets) (52%)
2: Renovate the kitchen (34%)
3: Renovate the bathroom (31%)
4: Upgrade, change or replace doors (22%)
5: Improvements that improve the energy efficiency of my home (22%)
6: Improvements that add value to my home (22%)
7: Build an extension (15%)
8: Upgrade, change or replace windows (14%)
9: Renovate the loft (14%)
10: Install a new boiler (13%)
The research also found that 50% of UK homeowners made changes to their homes during lockdown, with 37% saying they spent more on home improvements over the last year than they usually would.
Lee Galley, RISA Assessor Manager, comments: “From creating an office space for working from home to installing bi-fold doors to allow more natural light to flow through a property, 2021 was a busy year for home improvements and this is only set to continue in 2022. As a nation, we’ve been spending more time in our properties over the last two years than what we’re used to which has led to many spotting things about their homes that they want to change."
When asked how much they plan to spend on home improvements in 2022, homeowners say they’re looking to spend, on average, £6,727, with 17% saying they plan to spend over £9,000. Scots are set to splash the most cash on home improvements this year, with homeowners in the country saying they plan to spend, on average, £12,949.
Lee adds: “Clearly, we’re a nation of home improvers as so many are planning to invest a substantial amount on making changes to their homes in 2022. With this in mind, it’s really important for homeowners to be prepared for every eventuality – including building work going wrong!"
He concludes: “While it’s stressful for homeowners, inevitably some home improvement projects do sometimes go wrong, but there is financial support available. For example, if building work doesn’t go to plan and you have to pay a tradesperson to resolve the issue, you can make a claim against the consumer protection law, Section 75, as long as you have paid for the work on a credit card. Often making a claim can be quite confusing but using independent inspection bodies, such as RISA, can help give homeowners peace of mind."
