Home improvement 'becoming a national pastime'

16:05:20 27th May 2008

Carrying out improvements to a home - such as installing a conservatory - is becoming an increasingly popular pastime for consumers, it has been asserted.

Research carried out for financial services provider Halifax suggests that almost one in six people (14 per cent) have enhanced their property in some way just for fun.

Russell Galley, head of mainstream mortgages at the firm, suggests that current market conditions will allow homeowners to inject value into their property by carrying out the right home improvements.

"Carrying out work on your home can be rewarding but costly to correct if not executed properly. Where appropriate, consult the professionals," he adds.

The study also suggests that younger people are the most involved in home enhancements, with 74 per cent of people aged between 18 and 34 having carried out such work in the past 12 months.

Meanwhile, Lucy Hall, deputy editor of BBC Gardener's World Magazine recently advised consumers considering a conservatory to use the room to blur the boundary between their living space and gardens by opting for one with "plenty of glass".