SearchFlow estimated that 21% of all British homes are in need of immediate repairs for faults that are so severe the local authority has a duty to intervene to prevent potential death or serious injury.
Converted flats are the most likely to have dangerous problems, with 37.7% containing hazards, while private properties are almost twice as likely to be in a serious state of disrepair than social accommodation.
However, despite the high overall cost of disrepair, individuals could fix damage for a relatively low cost, SearchFlow said, with the average cost of repairing stairs, for example, coming in at less than £1,000 in 85% of cases.
SearchFlow highlighted that many homeowners are unaware that the Housing Act 2004 requires local authorities to step in where there are obvious hazards, to either force the property to be vacated or to require immediate repair.
Owners could also face prosecution if they fail to act on the council-ordered repairs to their homes.
Stuart Pearce, CEO of SearchFlow, said: “Many homeowners are unaware they live with serious hazards every day. When private dwellings are assessed by local authorities, there’s a one in five chance there will be a hazard present which requires immediate attention.
“This is a cost most property owners don’t factor into their plans and can therefore prove very hard to deal with. If you don’t make the required repairs – even if you can’t afford to – local authorities have the power to issue prohibition orders, which mean you aren’t legally allowed to live there any longer. In this situation, the only option for the owner may be to sell at a knockdown price.”
Pearce added: “Property owners who don’t want to be hit with an unwelcome ultimatum from their local authorities must pay attention to the regulations and execute repairs before it’s too late.”
