The top jobs to tackle to keep cash insulated in the home

More than one in four households are trying to avoid spending money on fixing, or servicing and safety checking their household appliances until the worst happens and they are no longer able to use them. The findings from Gas Safe Register revealed that these avoidable ‘cash leaks’ are costing homeowners on average £1,885 more per job.

More than 20 per cent said they have avoided tackling regular home maintenance tasks, which have ended up costing them more in the long run. Top of the list was fixing a leaking toilet (25%) which, according to Checkatrade, can cost £40-£60 per hour to repair versus an emergency call-out fee of £100-£120 – but could lead an average cost of £2,633 on average for a major leak.

This was followed by having gas appliances serviced and safety checked every year (21%). The potential costs of leaving these and more issues unchecked could be more than £400, versus an average safety check and service costing £100.

Clearing damp or mould, checking the roof for loose tiles and leaking taps were the top five jobs that cost much more to repair than maintain.

Over 15% of Brits who have experienced such ‘cash leaks’ in the home have been left out of pocket by more than £5,000.

Gas Safe Register has teamed up with TV presenter and financial adviser Emmanuel Asuquo to warn homeowners of the false economy as well as safety implications of not tackling regular maintenance jobs, by revealing the savings that can be made by carrying out essential tasks.

Emmanuel says: “More than ever, people are looking for ways to save money with the ongoing cost of living crisis, and there are definitely quick and easy ways to do this – from reducing your gas and electricity consumption to thinking smart when it comes to food shopping. But, avoiding tackling regular home maintenance jobs really can turn out to be a false economy, costing homeowners so much more in the long run.

“One thing we tackled at our house when we moved in two years ago, was getting our gas boiler safety and serviced checked straight away. Once we had a Gas Safe Registered engineer carry out the necessary checks, the results were instant: our house now heats up much quicker and stays warmer for longer, so we don’t need the heating on all the time. The engineer advised us to turn down our thermostat, and it meant that our gas and electricity bill went down by 20 per cent.

“I’ve teamed up with Gas Safe Register to help households to be confident with the simple ways in which they can save money around the home – and by following all the tips to avoid ‘cash leaks’ in your home this spring, you can accumulate savings of £495 a year in household cash – more than enough to cover your annual gas safety check, which is on average £80-£100. The costs can be high if repairs or replacements are needed, but you can’t put a price on the health and safety of your loved ones.”

Rob Denman, Head of Professional and Field Services at Gas Safe Register, adds: “A regularly serviced boiler not only keeps it working efficiently, helping reduce bills, but can also reduce the risk of gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning, keeping you and your loved ones safe.

“Many engineers get busier in the autumn and winter months when the central heating is turned on, and at a time when badly maintained boilers throw up problems. By booking in your annual boiler service now, to detect early signs of wear and tear, replace any faulty parts and help keep it well maintained before it will be in increased use again this autumn, you can minimise disruption to your household.

“That’s why we want to encourage homeowners to adopt a routine of keeping on top of home maintenance, including ensuring they have peace of mind by considering booking their annual boiler service with a Gas Safe registered engineer.”

Research conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Gas Safe Register. OnePoll surveyed 2,000 UK homeowners (aged 18+) with gas appliances in their homes between 20 and 27 March 2023.