Dodgy DIY could leave households out of pocket by thousands

Homeowners attempting DIY jobs in 2026 are being warned they could unknowingly invalidate their home insurance and have future claims refused.

With spring approaching, it’s peak season for DIY as lighter evenings and better weather give homeowners the chance to assess, repair and improve their homes.

Home insurance experts at Quotezone.co.uk say claims could be rejected if damage is traced back to poor workmanship, unsafe installations or undisclosed renovation work – including work carried out by uninsured tradespeople or novices posing as experienced professionals.

With over 200,000 people a year attending A&E for DIY related accidents, it’s a growing concern that people are tackling major home improvement tasks themselves. As cost pressures continue to squeeze households it’s likely this trend will continue to grow, as people try their hand at DIY in a bid to help save money.

A recent Quotezone survey found that 80% of people would attempt a household DIY job before calling in a professional, and 10% even say they’d try to tackle a full kitchen or bathroom renovation themselves.

Cost is the biggest barrier to hiring tradespeople, with 40% saying it puts them off. A further 34% said they avoid professional work because they don’t know who to trust. Interestingly, only 13% said they always hire professionals for home improvements.

Many people wrongly assume home insurance will cover most genuine accidents even if it’s caused by ‘dodgy DIY’, but in reality, a lot of policies specifically exclude damage caused by faulty or unprofessional work.

In most cases, insurers will only pay out for unforeseen events, such as storm damage or burst pipes – not problems caused by badly fitted plumbing or unsafe wiring, for example.

Failing to tell the insurer about major renovations could also be classed as a breach of the policy. That means insurers may refuse to pay a claim or even void the policy entirely. Major home improvements include jobs like rewiring, plumbing alterations, and new bathroom and kitchen fittings, if they significantly increase the home’s value or rebuild cost.

The risk is particularly high for projects that change the structure and layout of a property, or that should legally be carried out by a qualified professional under proper building regulations.

Even accidental damage cover has its limits. It often only applies to sudden and unexpected one-off incidents such as accidentally damaging the ceiling or cracking floor tiles by dropping something heavy.

Damage caused by poor workmanship or improper installation is usually excluded from buildings and accidental damage insurance policies, meaning homeowners could be left to cover the full cost of repairs themselves if something goes wrong – which could easily run into the thousands.

Helen Rolph, home insurance expert at Quotezone.co.uk said: “It’s worrying to see that 80% are willing to try their hand at major DIY projects before seeking help. Doing home improvements yourself can save money upfront, but if the work isn’t done properly or your insurer isn’t informed, it could end up costing you far more in the long run and invalidating your home insurance.

“Claims will likely be refused if damage is traced back to unsafe or undisclosed alterations – including work carried out by uninsured or underinsured tradespeople.

“Even if the original DIY job didn’t cause immediate problems, insurers can still reject a future claim if the work is later found to be the root cause.

“That’s why it’s so important to do your due diligence before hiring someone to work in your home, or before deciding to take on the job yourself to save money. If you’re hiring someone to do the work for you, don’t be afraid to ask about their liability insurance and their professional certificates – it’s also important to check for previous positive reviews, and if they’re a member of an approved trader scheme or trade association, for extra reassurance.

“If something goes wrong because of poor workmanship, or if you fail to tell your insurer about substantial work, your claim may be denied or your policy could be invalidated, leaving you unprotected.”