The amount of money people plan to spend on DIY is set to increase this quarter, according to the latest findings from the Alliance & Leicester mortgage movingimproving index.

The findings show that there will be an increase in the nation’s DIY spend, from £1,208 in the summer to a planned £1,270 for the autumn. This is also an increase on the amount people intended to spend this time last year (£1,243).

People focussing on improvements until house prices settle

Recent findings from the movingimproving index showed that the number of people in the UK intending to move house this autumn has decreased (4% intend to move this autumn versus 5% in the summer). This indicates that people may be focusing their budgets on improving their properties until interest rates and house prices settle.

The findings also show that decorating remains the most popular DIY activity with 29% of people planning to add a new carpet, curtains or furniture, followed by painting (19%) and garden improvements (10%). Bigger home improvements are still popular, with 7% of people planning to fund a new kitchen and 6% planning a new bathroom.

Paul Cooper, head of mortgages at Alliance & Leicester, said: “Although we have seen a fall in the proportion of people planning to move house over the next three months, the increase in predicted DIY spend suggests that rising interest rates may be influencing buyers to hold back and focus on their properties until rates stabilise."

“Whilst commentators continue to debate the housing market, it is important that people spend their money wisely on improvements. Interest rates remain at historically low levels and mortgage rates continue to be very competitive so it is still a good time to move for those who have considered all the financial implications.”

Key survey findings:

• Intended spend on DIY is up 5% since last quarter, when it stood at £1,208.44. The current estimated spend of £1,270 is also an increase on the figure from the same period a year ago, which stood at £1,243.
• Women expect to spend 10% more than men on decorating their homes, at £1,335 compared to men’s £1,211.
• People in their forties expect to spend the most on DIY, at £1,537 whilst those in their twenties will spend a slightly more modest £1270.
• Married couples plan to spend the most on DIY this autumn, at £1,418. This compares to singletons who expect to spend £1,022, and separated or divorced people, who plan to spend just £839 over the next three months.

• The greatest DIY expense this autumn will be decorating – which includes putting in new carpets, curtains or furniture. 29% of the nation expects to decorate – slightly down on the 30% who planned to decorate this summer and a year ago.
• 19% of people plan to paint their homes this autumn. This is the same as in the summer and a slight increase on the 18% a year ago. People in their twenties expect to do the most decorating, at 32%.
• 10% of people in the UK will be donning their gardening gloves and improving their gardens this autumn (versus 11% a year ago). This is a slight decrease on the 16% who planned to garden in the summer – a clear reflection on the seasonal weather changes and the poor weather this summer.
• People plan to get cooking this autumn, with 7% claiming they will put in a new kitchen. This is a slight increase on the 6% in the summer and the same as in this period last year.
• 6% of people expect that they will install a new bathroom over the next three months – the same as in this period a year ago and a decrease on the 7% in the summer.

• People in the East Midlands plan to spend the most on DIY this autumn, at £1,590. This compares to those in the West Midlands, who intend to spend just £1,050.
• People in the North and Scotland are the most likely to decorate (install new carpets, curtains or furniture) their homes this autumn, at 44% and 41% respectively. This compares to people in the East Midlands, who will be the least likely to decorate, at 21%.
• People in the South West and East Anglia are the most likely to paint their homes, at 29% each this autumn. This compares to people in the North and West Midlands, of whom just 13% plan to paint their homes this autumn.
• The Welsh are equally keen to decorate and paint their homes with 25% of people planning to carry out both types of home improvement.