Warning to anyone buying a home this year as homeowners hit with 'unexpected' £4k bills

A warning has been issued to anyone who is buying a property this year as homeowners are being hit with 'unexpected' bills. A new survey has revealed that two in five (40 per cent) new buyers fail to account for the full cost of their move, spending nearly £4,000 extra on unexpected expenses on average after moving in.

The research, commissioned by online estate agent Purplebricks, found that those who have overlooked costs are spending an extra £3,876 beyond their budget to fix issues such as boiler breakdowns or a leaking roof soon after getting the keys to their new home.

Millennials, aged 28 to 43, and Generation X, aged 44 to 59, bore the brunt of these emergency issues, averaging £4,302 and £4,331. Gen-Z adults, aged 18 to 27, reported average unexpected costs of £3,412, according to the survey.

Baby boomers, aged 60 to 78, paid the least in unexpected expenses, at £2,767 on average, perhaps due to people in this age group having more experience of home moves. Other issues uncovered by homeowners included unexpected removal fees, mould problems, faulty door locks or keys not working, broken white goods, and blocked drains.

Researchers asked 2,000 homeowners across the UK about their most recent move, including asking them to estimate the cost of unforeseen expenses after completion. The survey was carried out by Walr and completed in December 2024.

Some homeowners surveyed had turned to borrowing to fund the unexpected expense, such as by a credit card or loan or asking friends and family for help.

Sales Director at Purplebricks, Tom Evans, commented on the challenges facing new homeowners. He said: "After buying, taking ownership of your new home is meant to be a joy.

"However, there is nothing more likely to