Newcastle and Southampton have topped a list of the most house-proud cities in the UK, according to research.
A poll of 2,597 homeowners saw a list of top 20 cities given a points ranking based on time and money invested in improving and maintaining their homes.
Glasgow came in third place, taking the lead when it came to money spent on improvements and renovations – £5,940 – as well as time spent tidying their homes – five hours and 43 minutes each week.
Meanwhile, Leeds came in at the bottom of the list, spending just £1,697 on home improvements and renovations – half of the average national spend of £3,375.
But despite the cost-of-living crisis, the national average spend on home improvements rose by £669 from 2021 to 2022.
And Oxford, which ranked as the number one most house-proud city in 2021, did not even make the top 20 list in 2022.
The research was commissioned by Checkatrade as part of its third annual Home Pride Index report, which found 55% of homeowners now claim they are “house-proud’’, compared to 49% 12 months ago.
London moved from being the second most house-proud city in 2021, to sixth position in 2022 – while Brighton and Hove, which was previously in joint seventh place with Southampton, fell to fifteenth.
Mike Fairman, CEO at Checkatrade said: “Homeowners are more resilient than ever, not letting the cost-of-living deter them from home improvement projects.
“With the current uncertainty of the housing market, increased investments in spaces like lofts suggest homeowners are looking to make the most of what they have versus selling up and purchasing another property, and are seeking support from experienced tradespeople to help.”
The research also found homeowners polled, via OnePoll, spent more money improving or renovating their kitchen than any other room – an average of £1,106.
However, loft installations saw the biggest spike in investment compared to the previous year, with an increase of 432% – from an average of £153 in 2021, to £814 in 2022.
Top reasons for doing work to the home were due to spending more time there and wanting to improve the surroundings (32%), fixing wear and tear (30%), and being more efficient in response to the energy crisis (23%).
But even though people invested more in their homes in the past year, 61% spent less than they would have liked because of the cost-of-living crisis.
They instead pivoted to smaller, more affordable changes to refresh their living spaces – including painting walls and ceilings (29%), redecorating the living room (26%), and getting new soft furnishings (26%).
Mike Fairman added: “It’s indisputable that a house is more than a home, and the nation’s pride in where they live remains, despite the numerous challenges faced over the year.
“Whether it’s injecting colour into the living room, undertaking a loft conversion, or reducing its carbon footprint, taking care of your home can help your home take care of you.
“The nation’s growing focus on making smaller, everyday changes to give spaces a refresh is set to continue throughout 2023, and we cannot wait to see what new – and old – trends this year brings.”
UK's MOST HOUSE-PROUD CITIES:
- Newcastle – 88 points
- Southampton – 82 points
- Glasgow – 80 points
- Wrexham – 74 points
- Sheffield – 72 points
- London – 70 points
- York – 60 points
- Liverpool – 65.5 points
- Manchester – 65 points
- Cardiff – 62 points
- Cambridge/Leicester – 54 points each
- Belfast – 51 points
- Plymouth – 50 points
- Bristol – 48 points
- Brighton & Hove – 47.5 points
- Wolverhampton – 47 points
- Edinburgh – 46 points
- Chelmsford – 43 points
- Norwich – 41 points
- Leeds – 29 points
MONEY SPENT ON IMPROVEMENTS AND RENOVATIONS:
- Highest: Glasgow – £5,940
- Lowest: Leeds – £1,697
PROPORTION OF RESPONDENTS WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES TO BE HOUSE-PROUD:
- Highest: Sheffield – 70%
- Lowest: Plymouth – 45%
TIME SPENT CLEANING/TIDYING THE HOME PER WEEK:
- Highest: Glasgow – 5 hours 43 minutes
- Lowest: Coventry – 3 hours
NUMBER OF TRADESPEOPLE USED PER HOME ON AVERAGE:
- Highest: Glasgow – 7
- Lowest: Norwich – 3
PROPORTION OF HOMES WHO HAVE FEWER DIY JOBS LEFT TO DO THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST YEAR:
- Highest: Newcastle – 9
- Lowest: Leeds – 1
