Property experts warn on disasters caused by botched DIY repairs

The advice comes as it has been revealed that there has been an epidemic of botched repair jobs across the country as people seek to cope with the cost of living.

Research carried out by the insurer Direct Line has found that an astonishing 25% of adults have attempted to carry out potentially illegal DIY gas and electrical work.

In 29% of those cases, the work was done without building control approval or certification from a registered installer.

Eleanor Wood, Health and Safety Manager at Timberwise, said: "Meddling with electrical systems or indeed gas supplies without technical certification is not only dangerous, it is illegal.

"In many cases, the work needs to be certified by a local authority building inspector or a registered installer. This is important because getting it wrong can literally be fatal.

"I would say to people: please do not be swayed by videos on social media. The law requires repairs in many areas to be carried out by trained specialists for very good reasons.

"You will be risking lives, legal issues, and even prosecution and an unlimited fine if you get it wrong. Call in a specialist firm to do a survey first before deciding on what to do."

Miss Wood said the six high-risk areas are:

• Gas work - it is illegal to carry out repairs to gas-powered appliances unless you are registered Gas Safe. A botched repair can mean risking life-threatening carbon monoxide leaks or even a full boiler replacement costing thousands of pounds.

• Asbestos disturbance - microscopic asbestos fibres may cause breathing difficulties and even result in cancer. They can be released unwittingly by drilling, sanding or sawing in older properties and it is vital to get a survey done if you suspect the presence of the material, as DIY removal is banned in most areas.

• Electrical work - faulty electrical work can result in fire damage which could mean a hefty bill or even a full house re-wire. Getting in an electrician to carry out some small upgrades can cost just £150 in comparison.

• Structural repairs - this is where getting a professional survey done really makes sense, as making a mistake when carrying out work involving load-bearing walls can cost tens of thousands of pounds to fix.

• Damp and mould - Failing to address damp or mould now carries significant legal risk for landlords under Awaab's Law, which requires investigation and repairs within fixed timeframes. DIY patch-fixes that mask rather than resolve underlying moisture problems can expose people to respiratory health risks.

• Plumbing - hidden leaks caused by amateur repairs is another potentially costly area, as they can lead to significant structural damage.

For more information, please see www.timberwise.co.uk