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Parents Face £15,000 Home Damage Bill From Children By the Time They Reach 18
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The average child causes damage in their home 56 times a year, with 4 year olds causing the most
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Teenage angst is a factor - with the amount of damage, and the proportion caused due to ‘angry outburst’, rising in late teenage years
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New research from Checkatrade shows that the average cost to parents is £449 per year, per child - a total of £807 per year with parents on average having 1.8 children
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This totals a whopping £14,537 by the time their children become adults
The average child damages their parent's home 56 times per year - more than once a week - according to new research. With the average parent now having 1.8 children, that means the average parent has to contend with over 100 incidents of damage each year, costing an average of £807 annually, or £449 per child.
The research, from Checkatrade, the UK’s leading home improvement platform, shows that four year olds cause damage most frequently - a huge 111 times each year. This means that the average parent is left footing a bill of nearly £15,000 (£14,537) by the time their children have turned 18.
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Interestingly, it is young children and older teenagers who cause the most damage - with a dip in between. While 4 year olds cause over 100 incidents of damage a year, this falls to just 28 times a year for 11 year olds and 19 times a year for 13 year olds. However, the figure rises again after this - to 37 times a year for 16 year olds and 46 times a year for 17 year olds - with research backing up that pre-schoolers’ tantrums and teenage angst are partly to blame.
Five year olds and 17 year olds are the two ages where the highest proportion of damage was as a result of angry outbursts - 31% and 29% respectively, vs an overall average of less than a quarter (24%).
The most common items that children damage in the home are their own belongings such as toys or equipment (34% of all children), furniture and carpets (30%), drawing on walls (23%), scratching flooring (23%) and door/wall damage - such as slamming a door or kicking a wall (21%).
Amongst parents who say their children have caused damage in their home (84% say their kids have in the past year), nearly one in ten (8%) say their child has caused over £1,000-worth of damage in a single incident.
Electronics are the single-most expensive type of item parents spend money replacing after damage from a child - something any parent who has seen a toy fly slow-motion towards their TV screen will likely relate to. Amongst parents whose children have damaged items in the past year, they’ve spent on average £325 replacing electronics.
While some damage is the result of angry outbursts, it is more commonly as a result of an accident or their child’s ‘creativity’. Half (50%) say that an accidental spillage contributed to their child’s damage bill and 34% say damage was a result of them getting creative with pens or crayons. Playing outdoor games inside (26%) and playfighting (24%) also heavily contributed to damage.
The research shows most parents (69%) have made changes to their home - either proactively or reactively - to guard against damage where possible. A quarter (25%) chose washable or dark paint colours for their walls and a fifth (20%) chose washable furniture. Meanwhile 19% have replaced carpets with easy-to-wipe hard flooring and 17% have installed some kind of screen protector on TVs or other electronic screens.
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Ahead of the next half-term, Emma Grant, Head of Trade Experience at Checkatrade shares a list of the top five things parents can do to minimise the damage caused by their little ones:
"While there’s no doubt children bring a great deal of joy into our homes, they also bring an impressive ability to leave a trail of chaos in their wake — often with a hefty repair bill to match. From my own experience and from the tradespeople on our platform, we know just how common this kind of wear and tear can be.
“The good news is that there are simple and affordable ways for parents to child-proof their homes. Whether it’s opting for washable materials or installing additional safety features, you can save yourself a lot of time, stress and money in the long run by taking some precautions before the tantrums are thrown.”
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Washable paint or darker colours: At one time or another, your child will see your walls as a blank canvas that they have to fill in. Always opt for washable paints which allows for easy cleaning and preserves the appearance of your pristine walls . Alternatively, selecting darker, more forgiving paint colours can help conceal the day-to-day wear and tear.
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Create a ‘destruction zone’: Carving out a dedicated space where it's acceptable for children to play is likely to reduce the amount of damage wrought in other areas of the home. In this space, you could even install a chalkboard wall providing a creative outlet for kids’ artistic expression that doesn’t lead to your newly fitted carpets being ruined.
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Soft close hinges: Installing soft close hinges on doors and drawers throughout the home, especially in children's areas, is a simple yet effective safety measure. These hinges prevent accidental breakage from slamming, as well as reducing the risk of pinched fingers and any outbursts that accompany it.
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Furniture covers: Protect areas that are likely to take a beating from sticky fingers and spills with removable, washable covers. These are easy to clean or replace, saving you from deep cleaning or redecorating every few months.
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Shatterproof window films: A cost effective solution which can strengthen existing window glass. It helps to protect against smashes and in instances where windows do break, it holds the glass pieces together, reducing the risk of injury.
For those looking to future-proof their home, Checkatrade has a network of more than 50,000 vetted trade businesses to help with all home projects. To get an accurate quote in seconds for a specific job in your local area, why not use Checkatrade’s handy job estimate calculator.
