"Left untreated, a small snag can turn into a major issue – particularly if poor weather exacerbates an existing problem, such as a loose roof tile or wobbly guttering."
This is in spite of the current climate of soaring house prices and lightening-speed sales in some areas.
Aviva's survey reveals more than half of viewers (54%) would “definitely” reduce an offer, while a third (32%) would possibly do the same. A further 7% simply wouldn’t make an offer at all if they discovered problems while viewing.
Separate studies have estimated that between 14% and 20% can be knocked off the value of a residence if certain home maintenance tasks are neglected. Based on the average UK house price of £286,000, this could mean a reduction of between £40,040 and £57,200.
Signs of damp or dry/wet rot were voted the worst feature, with 65% of home-viewers finding this off-putting, followed by 59% for cracks in the walls or ceilings and 46% for loose or missing slates/roof tiles.
44% would find blocked drains a problem and 43% would take issue with draughty or unsecure windows and doors, followed by an unserviced/out of date boiler (41%), loose or overflowing guttering (35%) and dripping taps/leaky toilets (29%).
Uninsulated loft/roof spaces (29%), wobbly or worn paths (28%), poorly painted or maintained windows and doors (26%), damaged seals or tiles around baths/showers (25%) and an overgrown garden (24%) also featured on the list of off-putting features.
However, despite people admitting they would be concerned by poor maintenance, many admit they don’t always act immediately when it comes to their own homes.
When asked what they would do when faced with a minor issue, such as a loose tile or a wobbly fence, two fifths would deal with it straight away. But more than a third (35%) would get around to it when they had the time, and one in five (20%) would leave it until it became a bigger problem. A sneaky two per cent would ignore it in the hope someone else would deal with it.
When questioned about why they would delay a task, the most popular answer was that they couldn’t afford to put things right (35%). A quarter of people say they are too busy to deal with minor maintenance issues, and 23% wouldn’t know how to fix them. One person in eight (13%) says they have better things to do with their time.
Kelly Whittington, property claims director for Aviva UK, said: “Home insurance is there to assist customers when weather events occur, such as the storms and floods we often see during the colder months. Each year we help thousands of customers whose homes are affected by extreme weather. However, people should be aware general wear and tear issues are usually not covered. So if a maintenance issue is left unchecked and it’s made worse by weather, they may not be able to claim if the damage was pre-existing.
“Our research suggests millions of householders are disregarding minor issues around the home. But left untreated, a small snag can turn into a major issue – particularly if poor weather exacerbates an existing problem, such as a loose roof tile or wobbly guttering. This can mean more time, greater effort and additional expense may be required to put things right.
“Now is the perfect time for residents to review their homes so they can start to tackle any problems – either themselves or using a professional where appropriate - ahead of the wintry weather. By taking steps now, people could save themselves time, money and disruption in the long run.”
