Plumbing - Home maintenance claims increase

23/04/2008

UK homeowners seem to be unlucky with work carried out in their bathrooms and kitchens, as almost 20,000 complaints were made about home maintenance.

Consumer Direct, the government advice service, took 19,075 home maintenance complaints in the first three months of 2008.

Although this figure shows a fall from the 19.335 complaints made over the same period last year, they value of them rose by almost £6 million to reach £80 million.

Of the total, 2,667 complaints concerned general building works, while 2,827 were unhappy with the taps, sinks and other features in their fitted kitchens.

The service received 3,615 calls over their boilers, radiators and central heating and another 1,449 were let down by work to their showers and fitted bathrooms.

Michele Shambrook, operations manager for Consumer Direct, said: "There's no foolproof way of avoiding problems, but you need to do your homework before you embark on a project, agree clear terms with the trader, and if things go wrong, check your rights and take prompt action."

Last week, it was reported that £173 million a year is spent in the UK by homeowners repairing damaged caused by their neighbour's DIY efforts.