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Tradespeople Slapped With £177m Of Parking Fines In A Year
Tradespeople have been issued with an estimated 3.5 million parking fines costing them approximately £177 million in the past year, according to new...
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Illegal Home Repairs Cut Out Professional Trades
Over a fifth of Brits admit they would complete home repairs themselves, ask a mate or employ someone no questions asked despite those jobs being legally required to be carried out or checked by a registered tradesperson.
The news is revealed in new research from Direct Line business insurance.
Completing work that does not comply with building regulations is a criminal offence and could lead to a maximum fine of £5,000.
It is not just that people could be sued if they complete works themselves, tackling jobs that are designated for professionals and not following health and safety rules can cause serious injury and damage.
Homeowners with uncertified installations could also face problems further down the line, as not having the necessary paperwork, could become an issue when selling a property, resulting in delays, extra expense or work needing to be redone.
Hurting themselves
More than two-in-five UK householders carry out DIY work that does not necessarily need to be completed by a competent person – but as a result, 14 per cent have either hurt themselves or made a problem worse.
Of those who hurt themselves, 30 per cent slipped and fell. Nearly two-fifths (38 per cent) of people either cut themself or strained a muscle and 34 per cent burned themself.
According to NHS data, there were 6,610 hospital admissions for injuries from falling from a ladder in the last year. 2 Other DIY-related admissions include scaffolding (427), exposure to unspecified electric currents (187), contact with non-powered hand tools (2,730), contact with powered hand tools (5,343) and contact with lawnmowers (438).
Cost to put it right
Starting a new Do-It-Yourself (DIY) project could cost UK households more money than it’s worth, as the cost to repair damage caused by at home DIY mistakes is on average £1,076.
“Trade based skills are a crucial part of the UK economy. As the cost-of-living crisis worsens, it’s understandable that people may look to cut costs where possible, such as carrying out home improvements themselves”
– Alison Traboulsi
Product Manager, Direct Line Business Insurance
Call a professional
“During difficult times, it’s important that people still look for professionals to do complex work rather than breaking the law or compromising their own health and finances,” continues Direct Line’s Traboulsi. “For those worried about cost, it’s always worth comparing quotes from a few contractors and check reviews online for service quality.”
Picture: A fifth of brits would break the law to get a home repair done and even more would call in a cowboy or a mate to save money.
www.directlineforbusiness.co.uk
Article written by Cathryn Ellis
16th November 2022