Property experts have warned homeowners to reconsider skipping or delaying essential jobs around the home, as new findings reveal that close to a quarter (or 23%) of homeowners are putting off vital jobs, such as boiler servicing.
As part of its consumer research, MyBuilder.com found that many UK homeowners were choosing to forego vital works such as boiler servicing due to expense, despite the risks.
These findings were backed up by MyBuilder’s own data, which shows that boiler servicing jobs have been down all year, ever since the cost-of-living crisis began.
Boiler servicing requests have dropped 18% so far this year, compared to the same period in 2022.
This is particularly concerning in light of the fact that skipping a boiler service can bring danger into your home – as well as invalidate your home insurance.
Boilers should be serviced annually, as not doing so can lead to many issues and is likely to invalidate their warranty.
This can lead to homeowners losing significant sums of money should the boiler fail.
But more importantly, services are meant to ensure the safe operation of the boiler, keeping your property – and your personal safety – intact.
The research found that homeowners aged over 55 were the most likely to delay getting maintenance work done, with 28% admitting they planned to postpone or skip getting works completed.
The younger homeowners (those under 34) were most likely to prioritise home maintenance, with just 20% planning on delaying.
Jack Coles, a heating expert at MyBuilder.com, said: “We know things have been really tough this year for many Brits, but boiler servicing is one job that really shouldn’t be skipped. It can invalidate your insurance and warranty in the event of an issue, or worse, can cause hazards in your home.
“Late September is the time when demand hits its peak, meaning that those who attempt to organise a boiler service after that date may be in for a long wait. In an ordinary year, bookings for boiler servicing can spike more than 60% – but with so many people delaying their services this year, we expect that to be even higher.
“We’d advise homeowners who do plan to service their boilers to book it in as soon as possible, to ensure they have working heating ahead of colder weather, which may only be a few weeks away despite the current warmer weather.”
