Nearly Half of UK households consider home expansion as they struggle with limited space

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

UK homeowners who are fed up with their property but are unable to move might be tempted to expand their home instead. New figures reveal that almost half of UK homeowners are looking to increase the size of their property.

A recent poll by Everest Home Improvements found that a massive 44% of people want to increase the size of their household. The majority of those looking to expand their property are aged between 35 and 54, while it was also discovered that many people on higher incomes would like to increase the size of their home.

This comes at a time when Prime Minister David Cameron recently encouraged homeowners to build their way out of the recession with home improvements. The coalition announced plans earlier this year to reduce the cost and delay of seeking council permission to change domestic properties.

Some 200,000 households apply every year for permission to make home improvements such as conservatories, rear extensions and garage conversions. Application fees for the majority of extensions are typically £150 and professional fees could cost thousands more. The entire process could leave homeowners tied up in red tape for months, despite the majority of applications being approved.

Conservatories, in particular, are hugely popular as they can be used for a variety of reasons all year-round. Conservatories can revitalise your home, providing an additional and elegant space to work, relax or entertain guests. In addition, they are secure and can be customised to include insulated flooring and walls.

The majority of those looking to build on their existing property are men. Some 48% of males are looking to increase their property, compared to 40% of women.

Times are tough and a number of people cannot afford to move to a larger property. Many people who are stuck in this quandary are looking to make improvements to their existing property. A home extension could not only this increase the living space and the quality of the home, but it could also significantly add to the value of the property.

The research found that those in the South are particularly keen on expanding their property, with 46.59% saying they would like to increase the size of their home. They were very closely followed by residents in the Midlands and Wales, with 46.12% sharing this view.

The research found that those who are most likely to want to build a conservatory or other extension of the property either have children or more than two people living in the household.

Expanding your property could be essential if you have young children. The study found that 63% of those with one child want to increase the size of their property and a massive 75% of families with three children also want to increase the size of their home. One way of taking advantage of the additional space could be to use a conservatory as a children’s playroom.