An estimated, near 30 million British adults (65%) have performed DIY tasks such as painting, plumbing or tiling in the last year rather than pay for professional help, in order to save money.

Sainsbury’s Home Insurance found that these people claim to have saved over £49 billion in the last 12 months by doing so.

However, the insurer is warning homeowners that their insurance could be invalidated if they carry out certain tasks themselves without following the relevant compliance procedures. This includes carrying out electrical work in high-risk areas such as kitchens, bathrooms and gardens, which 5.2 million people (11%) have carried out themselves in the last 12 months, and which also requires prior Building Control notification. Undertaking structural changes such as a loft conversion or rear extension without first informing your insurer could also invalidate your insurance.

The bank is also warning people to make sure they have accidental damage cover in place with their home insurance so that they are covered should they knock over a pot of paint or break a window for example, whilst undertaking DIY projects.

Internal painting is the most common task that people have been doing themselves, with more than one in two people (51%) having done this in the last year to save money. This is followed by minor electrical tasks such as fitting lights or replacing plug sockets, carried out by more than one in three people (38%), and plumbing tasks such as removing a radiator or fixing a leak, which one in five (21%) people have performed themselves to save cash.

% of adults who have carried out DIY tasks themsevles instaed of paying a professional to do them, in order to save money
North West – 72%
Wales – 72%
Scotland – 71%
South West – 69%
West Midlands – 65%
South East – 65%
Yorkshire & Humberside – 64%
East Midlands – 64%
North East – 63%
Eastern – 59%
London – 56%

Joanne Mallon, Sainsbury’s Home Insurance manager said: “DIY is a great way to save money and the sense of achievement when the job’s done can be tremendous, so don’t ruin it by exposing yourself to calamity. Check you have good accidental damage cover and check that your insurer will cover you whilst you undertake the work, and whatever you do, make sure you use a registered electrician to carry out any major electrical works”.