DIY obsession causes homeowning SOS

More than half of new homeowners will choose new curtains (52%) or paint the walls (54%) than write a will or change the locks within three months of moving into a new home, according to new research commissioned by AA Legal Services.

At a time when both house prices and interest rates are rocketing, homebuyers are putting their enthusiasm for cracking open a tin of paint ahead of important legal and safety considerations. With only seven per cent of people making a will in their first few months of moving, it is even more alarming that 40 per cent of home owning couples admit their house is just in one person’s name.

AA Legal Service’s “Safe as Houses” campaign aims to help people understand the financial and legal issues associated with buying a house. The poll asked a GB representative of over 2,000 homebuyers what they would do in their first three months in a new home.

Young homebuyers put themselves at greatest risk. None of the 18-24 year olds questioned had made a will in their first three months of moving home. Instead, they ranked painting their walls as a priority (77%) compared to just under half of over 55’s (48%).

Those in the 18-24 age bracket were also among the first to chose new curtains (68%) compared to under half of 45-54 year olds (48%).

The Scots are among the more conscientious new homeowners with 16% arranging to write a will within their first three months of moving in, compared to just 2% of people in Yorkshire and a 7% national average. In addition, 28% of Scots change their locks within the first three months of moving home compared to just 14% of those in the South West and a 21% UK average.

Men were more likely to sort out life insurance (31%) in the first three months of moving than women (28%). Women were more likely to sort out home insurance (81%) than men (76%).

Only 8% of married couples had a will written within their first months of moving, preferring instead to arrange home insurance (79%) and change electoral roll (54%) or paint the walls (54%).

Surprisingly, couples with children living at home are least likely to write a will (6%) than people without children (10%).

James Molloy, Head of AA Legal Services says: “In the excitement of buying a new home, our research reveals that people are understandably enthusiastic about improving their home comforts by painting and decorating when they first move in. However, although it may seem like a gloomy chore, it is vital to the get legalities sorted out to save complications further down the line.

“Moving home is complicated and stressful enough without getting to grips with legal complications too. We aim to help people with this process by keeping things such as making a will simple so they can make the right decisions at the right times.”