House proud Britons love to splash out on fixing up their homes

Thousands of Brits are spending liberally to keep their castles in tip-top condition, yet only one in 10 invest home security systems

British people spend more on beautifying their homes than they do on keeping them secure

It’s official – an Englishman’s home really IS his castle.

Researchers who carried out a detailed study found keeping the "castle" in tip top condition demands 104 hours of decorating or DIY, 493 hours cleaning and £1,081 on tradesmen coming round every year.

It also emerged more than one third feel "incredibly proud" of their homes, with half admitting they regularly spend hours ensuring it is beautifully presented.

Furthermore across the average home’s lifespan, owners will fork out an incredible £505 a year on updating decor including furniture, soft furnishings and kitchenware.

In addition, £203 will be spent each year on DIY, while a further £144 a year goes on buying cleaning products.

But despite the obvious pride, one in 10 owners have not invested in any sort of home security system, and 41 per cent only consider it when they’re away from the house.

A spokesman for lock-manufacturer Yale, which carried out the study among 2,000 homeowners in conjunction with National Home Security Month, said: “It seems bizarre that homeowners are so focussed on creating a home which they want to show off to family and friends, and yet many have done little to protect that investment.

“Two thirds of respondents haven’t installed any kind of house alarm or home security system.

“And just 17 per cent have put a security camera up on their wall to keep an eye on who’s coming and going from their immaculate homes.”

Outside the house, the average Brit will spend over 11 hours a month gardening, adding up to 132 hours over a year – the equivalent of five and a half full days.

When we’re not working on our homes, we’re worrying about them – Brits will spend more than four hours each week fretting about how their castle needs a clean or some DIY doing.

And then there’s a further seven hours spent weekly devising exactly how best to make the changes – by updating with a lick of paint or moving a piece of furniture.

More than six in 10 homeowners agree that "An Englishman’s home is his castle".

And a huge 86 per cent believe their home is their best investment, therefore it is wise to look after it.

However, the OnePoll.com study also found a lack of security found in many British homes suggests this is far from the truth.

And a fifth of Brits admit they don’t feel their home is quite as secure as it could be when they aren’t there.

And while 45 per cent of adults will ask a neighbour to check on their property while they’re away from the home for a long holiday, just 15 per cent are currently a member of the local neighbourhood watch scheme.

Four in 10 adults admit they never check the locks on the windows and doors before going to bed at night, and 43 per cent don’t even check them when leaving the house.

A further 54 per cent of those polled never think to hide their precious possessions away from windows, and eight in 10 haven’t checked their insurance covers everything in the home.

The Yale spokesperson added: “It is evident from the research that Brits are spending hours on the up-keep of their property, but aren’t investing the same effort in its security.

“It is bizarre to think that homeowners are spending time and money on creating a home to be proud of, but are then leaving it so vulnerable to opportunist thieves.”

SWNS