Going without heating is homeowners’ biggest winter stress, poll claims
Few set aside money to deal with home emergencies, survey suggests
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Your support makes all the difference.Being without heating or hot water, illnesses and falling on ice are among the biggest winter stresses, according to a new poll.
A rise in energy bills, worrying about home repairs and having to get up when it’s dark outside also featured among the things causing concern.
Having to pay for Christmas Day, putting on weight and doing less exercise also boosted respondents stress levels over the winter months, they said.
The survey of 2,000 homeowners also found one in five were concerned about a deep freeze causing their pipes to burst, while a tenth said they were worried their heating was not up to the task of warming their home.
Their concern is often based in experience, as 45 per cent reported having experienced their boiler breaking down in winter.
Despite this, almost half admitted that they did not set anything aside to deal with home emergencies, despite the average Briton expecting to spend £1,278 overcoming testing times this winter.
“When it comes to our homes, health and finances, more than half of homeowners agree that winter is far more stressful than summer,” said Andy Kerr, co-founder of smart home tech installers, BOXT, which commissioned the poll. “One in six respondents feel they have overpaid for emergency repairs in the past as they didn’t feel clued-up as to how much it should cost.
“If your heating breaks, your spirit really doesn’t have to though. It’s now simple ... to get a fixed-price quote in 90 seconds and have it installed the next day.”
The survey also suggested that worrying about being ripped off for home repairs was a major source of stress for two thirds of respondent.
And in total, they estimated they paid £383 on repairs to their home during winter last year.
Nearly a quarter said they wouldn’t be financially prepared to do the same again this year and would have to consider putting the expense on a credit card.
Mr Kerr added: “It’s only when you’re without your boiler you realise how much you rely on it."
SWNS
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