MILLIONS of Brits have admitted to not having enough room in the home to fit all their stuff.
Nearly half are stressed about this clutter, according to a poll of 2,000 adults.
Clothes are among the most common items being left in storage roomsCredit: Getty
Many people are not using the loft their full potentialCredit: Getty
Homeowners are believed to have at least one room on average in their house , and another partially.
Nine in ten also have , but only go into it an average of six times a year.
Some (six per cent) even said they never go in there.
The most common items in storage spaces like these are clothes that do not fit into the wardrobes, pile-ups of documents and paperwork, and or .
But a quarter (26 per cent) in Britain are still too embarrassed to invite people over due to the chaos.
Lofts are really proving to be an overlooked solution to , as 41 per cent of house-hunters were not even shown the loft by estate agents.
And only 31 per cent confirmed the loft in the floor plan for the property.
Estate agents are therefore being urged to start including usable lofts in their listings, and developers integrate raised boarding systems into new-build homes.
In this way, buys can have access to in their home from day one.
Insulation expert and CEO of LoftZone, Dave Raval, said: “The loft is one of the great blind spots in British housing – absent from , undervalued in listings, and wasted in ways that cost homeowners both space and money.
“It’s extraordinary that such a large area of the home – often the size of a whole extra room – is left to gather dust.
“As most UK houses have lofts that span the full footprint of the property – for example, in a typical three-bed semi the loft covers the size of a double bedroom and ensuite, or nearly a third of the home’s footprint.
“So, I think it’s time to reframe the loft as the ‘hidden floor’, with the power to unlock thousands in value, improve listings, and dramatically reduce household heat loss.”
Lofts are often primarily being used for the festive season, with more than half (57 per cent) of the space storing Christmas decorations, trees (52 per cent) and lights (52 per cent).
Key reasons Brits may not be using their lofts year-round were revealedCredit: SWNS
This is despite most having a loft in their propertyCredit: SWNS
Many people (27 per cent) say they only ever go into the loft to get the decorations and put them back.
The key reasons for Brits spending as little time in their lofts as possible throughout the year were revealed to be due to it being too dusty, inaccessible or full to the brim.
Others feared their loft may be taken over by spiders (11 per cent) or other insects and animals (9 per cent).
But storage space can be a major priority for 88 per cent of individuals looking to buy a property.
Raval added: “Small, affordable improvements to your loft can have a big impact – insulating with 300mm deep loft insulation and then fitting raised boarding above that will transform the loft from a dumping ground into a functional and energy-saving space.
“By raising boards correctly, households can protect insulation, unlock up to 50 per cent more storage, and prevent costly heat loss this winter.
“In a housing market where every square metre counts, ignoring your loft is like throwing away a room of potential – and, as this can add around £10,000 in some markets.”
On average, respondents believed a functional and accessible loft space would add £8326 to their property’s value.
A majority (61 per cent) also agreed storage space would influence their decision on making an offer on a house, according to the poll.
