Tradespeople Overwhelmed by DIY Disasters Across UK
Posted by: electime 6th August 2025
Average Brit Reported 5 DIY Disasters in Last Year… Costing Over £1,500
Tradespeople are increasingly being called upon to rectify DIY disasters across the UK, with 1 in 4 trades professionals revealing they are regularly needed to fix amateur repair attempts.
New research from commercial insurance broker Premierline also shows almost three quarters of Brits (74 per cent) admit to attempting DIY projects without proper equipment. And, over half (51 per cent) say they eventually turned to a professional after making things worse themselves.
Additionally, over half of those customers surveyed also went on to reveal they spent more fixing the issue than they would have paid for a professional from the start, with the average cost of professional rectification hitting £1,555.70. That figure soars to over £2,100 for homeowners aged 18–29, who also report the highest number of DIY disasters at 7.4 per year.
The top 3 most common disasters include:
- Poorly installed fixtures (40 per cent)
- Electrical faults (37 per cent)
- Plumbing leaks (35 per cent)
Rebecca Leversidge, Marketing Manager at Premierline, commented: “There’s a rising trend of people taking matters into their own hands… but the financial and professional risks for tradespeople are growing in parallel. While people might be trying to save money by practicing DIY instead of relying on a professional, this is actually costing them significantly more in the long run.
Not something a professional would recommend, our research also revealed a surprising list of household items being misused for home repairs 71% have used a kitchen knife as a makeshift tool, 40 per cent have grouted with a credit card, 31 per cent have used a rolling pin as a hammer and a quarter (25 per cent) admitted to damaging walls while trying to drill.
Rebecca continued, “Naturally, we’re seeing more professionals pulled in to clean up after failed attempts.
On a positive note, this creates more work and demand for reliable tradespeople, negatively it also introduces more complexity such as; rushed callouts, unclear histories and a higher chance of being called out again when something else goes wrong.
For a tradesperson in today’s world it’s crucial they have the right business insurance in place – especially Public Liability, Professional Indemnity, and Tools Cover products – to protect them and their business – especially if self-employed.”
While these ‘creative’ solutions might save money in the short term, the risks are real, not just for homeowners, but for the professionals they later rely on to fix the damage.
It’s no surprise that nearly 1 in 3 tradespeople believe that DIY skills have ‘significantly’ dropped in recent years, with Aberdeen (75 per cent) the key location where homeowners skilled have dropped, while Swansea (50 per cent) is the place where tradespeople stated DIY acts are improving.
While some may see the rise in repair jobs as an opportunity, the report serves as a reminder that fixing someone else’s mistake can carry legal and financial risks. These include:
- Damage to client property while correcting an unsafe or unfinished job
- Accusations of fault where original work was hidden or undocumented
- Unexpected tool damage, especially when adapting to subpar conditions
- Increased need for Professional Indemnity Insurance where advice, design, or fault diagnosis is involved
Rebecca adds: “We speak with hundreds of tradespeople each year, and a growing number are dealing with the consequences of amateur repairs. It’s no longer just about doing a clean, professional job – it’s about protecting yourself in unpredictable scenarios.
From electricians and plumbers to painters, decorators and handypeople, we help businesses across the UK arrange insurance cover that fits the reality of modern work – where mistakes made by others can become your responsibility. Whether you’re working solo or managing a growing team, understanding your risk exposure and making sure you’re protected is key.”
If you’re a tradesperson routinely called in to fix home repairs, or you want to ensure you’re protected from the rising risks of DIY-related work, having the right business insurance is essential to safeguard your livelihood, reputation, and finances.
