The next generation of homeowners is even turning their backs on the most straightforward of home improvements.

According to the study by Novuna Personal Finance, over two-thirds (68%) of 23-25-year-olds ask a trade professional for help on even basic DIY projects.

Incredibly, half (50%) of this age group won’t entertain the idea of assembling flat pack furniture, with 23–25-year-olds also more averse to getting handy with paintbrushes (65%) and hammers (59%) than their older counterparts.

The study, which polled over 2,000 UK homeowners aged 23 to 50, found the reluctance felt by homeowners to roll up their sleeves is leaving plans to upgrade to kitchens (51%), bathrooms (50%) and bedrooms (42%) being shelved.

Unwillingness to take on DIY projects often stems from previous home improvement howlers as the figures suggest mistakes are burning a hole in homeowners’ pockets to the tune of £446m per year, with a third of the nation forking out up to £200 a time to repair a DIY disaster.

However, Brits who are prepared to don their overalls, rather than hiring a professional, claim they have saved between £1,000 and £5,000 by taking on projects themselves.

When considering regional differences across the UK, the crisis in confidence amongst DIYers is most pronounced in the North-East (80%), Northern Ireland (75%) and South-East (73%).

In contrast, fewer than half of Londoners (48%) lack the self-belief to take on a home improvement project.