It’s 6.30am and I’ve just come downstairs. I sigh, noticing that the wooden plank underneath the dishwasher has fallen off. I wearily push it back into place, knowing that the minute I open the dishwasher, it will fall off again. One of the hinges on the cupboard is loose, so I open it gingerly, looking for coffee; hoping that with care it will hang on for a few more months.
In case you hadn’t gathered: the house is falling apart. Bedside lights need repairing. Large patches of carpet have been eaten by moths. There’s peeling paint in the bathroom. I can see damp in the front room, and there’s also a large patch that greets you as you climb the stairs. I have put a jaunty postcard over one patch in an attempt to stop it from triggering me so much.
It’s depressing, especially when you’re in your fifties, with a well-paid job. I always thought that by this stage of life, I’d be in a comfortable home and replacing a cupboard door wouldn’t be a worry. But like many of us, five years into a cost of living crisis, I can’t afford to get them fixed. Along with tomatoes, children’s shoes, flights, train tickets and flat whites, the cost of getting something fixed has risen dramatically. Whenever I call a carpenter, odd job man, or dreaded damp expert, my mind is blown when they give me the price. Little wonder that, according to a recent study by Savills, home renovation approvals have fallen to their lowest level in over a decade. Whilst we all know that we should be staying on top of repairs, it’s hard to prioritise when we also need to buy food, fuel, clothes, and after-school clubs.
The middle-class trajectory I assumed I’d follow is taking a very different route. We all watched our parents do up their homes bit by bit, eventually making a nice profit from property on which to enjoy their retirement. My generation, instead, have no savings, no pensions, and not enough money to renovate our homes to increase their value.
“Do you know any excellent odd job men?” I asked a friend recently. Most of the conversations I have and messages on our street WhatsApp group are on this theme. The tradespeople themselves are local celebrities and wear sunglasses even in winter, so they won’t get mobbed when they exit your house. “You need to maintain your house or things just get worse and then you get really serious problems,” another friend reminded me while we walked her dog together. I think about the analogy of our teeth, and how if we don’t get fillings, we end up with decay, then root canal. The truth is, at some points it’s been a choice between seeing the dentist or fixing a bit of damp, and I’ve prioritised my teeth.
At night I wake up worrying about what would happen if there was a massive leak in the roof, and what sort of unearthly sum it would cost to fix it. I have a friend who is currently having major renovations done on her kitchen, and I have to grit my teeth when I go over, because she’s actually having proper home improvements, and not just getting emergency maintenance when things go wrong. I’m aware that this more proactive approach is better, but can’t afford to do it.
I spoke to Nick Hanks, of NH Construction – specialising in domestic renovations and builds – about the types of home renovations and improvements we should prioritise and things we can do ourselves.
First up, he advises getting painting, as it’s something relatively cheap and easy to do yourself. “Kitchen and bathrooms are usually smaller and easy to brighten up with a paint job. Kitchen doors can be painted and woodwork surfaces sanded,” says Nick. My kids love putting their shoe prints on the walls (or they did when they were younger) so tackling this feels realistic and at least might give me the sense that I’m not just letting things slide.
He also talks about the value of buying things second hand: ‘Think about buying furniture or accessories perhaps from sites like Marketplace, Vinted and Ebay and search out reclamation pieces for improving outside spaces or auctions (lots of auction houses host special garden events).” We have a bedroom door which has a massive crack in it, and I’d always assumed it was too expensive to replace, so this is heartening. Perhaps a second-hand door will do just as well (once I can find someone to install it, too).
Nick says that damp shouldn’t be ignored, as it can potentially lead to more serious problems and more expense long term. “Never ignore rising damp or damp coming from the roof (mould is often a clear signal that something needs looking at). Good airflow can improve damp cheaply (and adding efficient extraction) and in the summer ventilate for free with your windows open!” The damp we have is only patchy and so far, fingers crossed, is not coming from the roof. I know that there are health concerns associated with damp though, so my partner and I have made a note to prioritise this when we have more funds (manifesting this right now).
Finally, Nick says that your relationship with your tradesperson/builder is pivotal. You need to be able to trust them. “I would always advise people to get quotes and if you can, word of mouth (seeing someone’s work) is the best way to ensure success. Don’t expect everything to run smoothly (things go wrong all the time) but build a good relationship with your builder.”
Taking some of these tips into account, I’m about to go on the street WhatsApp to find out about getting a damp specialist – just to see what needs doing, so I can be less head in the sand. Painting is also definitely something I can do myself. And the plank under the dishwasher that keeps falling off? Well, that might just have to wait. It’s a pain, but it’s not doing anyone any harm.
Hence then, the article about at 52 i m trapped in my damp house i can t afford to renovate or move was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( At 52, I’m trapped in my damp house – I can’t afford to renovate or move )
Also on site :