Forget designer bathrooms and showpiece kitchens, what home owners in the UK really crave today is simply more space, according to new research from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
Small and medium-sized (SME) construction firms are the independent companies at the sharp end of home improvement projects and a recent poll of its members revealed that approaching two thirds of the respondents (61%) cited creating more space as the most important consideration for customers.
The UK builds some of the smallest houses in Europe and, with average house prices now approaching £300,000, moving to a larger house is simply not an option for most individuals and families.
“The average cost of moving house is likely to be around 5% of the value of the new house. You can create a lot of new space in your existing home for that amount of money,” points out Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB. “The simple need for more space has become increasingly important over the past twenty years and is now the most significant reason for home owners calling in a builder.”
Brian Berry was speaking on the day that the FMB celebrates its 75th anniversary. “Our members are the smaller independent and often family-owned companies that provide the backbone of the home improvement industry in this country. Since the organisation was formed to give small builders the chance to help rebuild Britain after WWII, the work of our members has reflected the changing nature of customer demand.
“Installing inside toilets and central heating might have been the aspiration of home owners in the 50s and 60s but now the focus is firmly on the need to increase space.”
At the House of Lords anniversary celebration on 12th July, the FMB used the opportunity to urge the Government to increase its focus on solving the housing crisis: the single most significant factor leading to rising house prices.
