A report has revealed that 6.7 million homes in the UK are not in a decent state of repair and £48 billion would be needed to bring them up to standard. The English House Condition Survey, commissioned by the ODPM, says that 5 million of these homes are in the private sector. The survey assesses the state of repair of a number of building components including walls, roofs, windows, doors, chimneys, electrics and heating systems. The survey also determines whether the property has modern facilities and services and if it provides a reasonable degree of heating and insulation. Tim Crawford, an economist for the Halifax Group, said: “There has been a real boom in spending on home maintenance and repairs over the past 20 years, with a doubling in spending since 1984. The popularity of home makeover and property development programmes has meant that DIY has almost become a national obsession.” He added: “However, it is clear … that there is a significant proportion of the private housing stock that is in a state of disrepair, which creates a stark contrast with the picture of a nation of home improvers.” (Guardian)