British houses are in the worst state of repair compared to the rest of Europe, with nearly every second home in need of renovation, according to research released last week by Bosch.
This is largely due to more than a third of British houses having been built at least 60 years ago, says the report, which interviewed 1,025 respondents online between September 17-21, 2009.

Despite bank holiday renovating being a traditional activity in the UK, figures show that we are less interested in DIY than other nations.

The statistics show that 45% of Brits claim to have little interest in DIY, with only 14% describing their ability as nearly professional or advanced, compared with 47% of Germans who claim to be semi-professional DIYers.

With more than a third of British people (35%) living in homes built during the first half of the last century, 7% admit their homes are very out-dated and in need of renovation, as opposed to just 1% of French people in the same situation.

The report also showed that, when faced with a practical task at home, 63% of people under the age of 35 admitted they wouldn't know what to do with a toolbox, while 70% think home improvement is just too much effort.

Bosch DIY expert Chris Tidy believes this situation has arisen because parents are failing to pass essential home-making skills onto their children: "In the past parents would hand down DIY skills to their children, but today's mums and dads are either too busy, or don't have practical know-how themselves, relying on getting professional help when repairs or improvements are needed."

He added: "I believe that no matter who you are, or what the job, DIY can be time and cost-effective as well as straightforward with simple step-by-step instructions and light-weight, easy to use power tools. What's more the personal fulfilment and satisfaction that comes from doing a significant job yourself is unbeatable."

Bosch has created a 'How To' guide providing simple instructions on the most popular jobs tackled by the nations, including putting up shelves, hanging doors and painting walls. Visit www.bosch-do-it.co.uk/diy/houseofbosch/ for more information.