UK homeowners have been hit with a stark warning they could receive fines of up to £5,000 when doing jobs around the house.
People who own their own homes could also see their insurance voided, experts have warned. Building Regulations laws state those who carry out electrical works in particular rooms, such as the bathroom, are actually breaking the law and could face large fines.
Servicing your own boiler is also illegal, and while not servicing isn't actually against the law, it could leave you uninsured if problems arise as a result. On top of this, badly maintained properties – or bodged DIY jobs – are costing homeowners millions of pounds every year in denied insurance payouts.
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As the cost of living continues to bite, hundreds of thousands of people are delaying essential maintenance or carrying out specialist jobs themselves, but according to MyBuilder.com failing to maintain your home properly – or risking DIY instead of getting the professionals in – can lead to problems should an accident or damage occur.
Many home insurance companies have it written into the small print that any claims relating to damage caused by improperly maintained properties will not result in a payout. This includes failing to carry out general maintenance (such as clearing out your gutters) but also includes any damage caused by DIY jobs.
Andy Simms, a property expert from MyBuilder.com, said it is essential that policyholders check the small print before carrying out jobs themselves. He told the ECHO: "I understand it can be tempting to hang a shelf yourself, or replace a roof tile, or even service your boiler.
"[But] if you're not a gas professional or a Gas Safe Engineer, then servicing your own boiler is illegal under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
"The fact is that if damage ensues as a result of DIY, or an accident happens, you could find yourself in a situation where your insurer will not pay out. This can even be the case if you didn’t cause any damage during the job – but if a problem occurred later.
“Particularly with fixes or maintenance on boilers, heating systems, or electrics. These should always be carried out by certified experts, or you will face a big bill should it all go wrong.”
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