It has been reported today that home improvements have been put on hold for the majority of households, as high costs involved and lack of disposable income fail to see the job through from start to finish.

Jason Orme, editor at Homebuilding and Renovating, claims the current economic situation means that the "significant investment" involved with DIY and other improvements is just not an option for many.

"Over the past year it has been an incredibly difficult economic climate for everybody and people have been hankering down and certainly putting off major expenditure," Mr Orme states.

There are also fewer outlets for people to buy the products to adapt their homes, as Focus DIY recently closed down, along with other similar shops.

Mr Orme's comments follow a report from the Confederation of British Industry, which revealed a drop of 62 per cent in hardware and DIY sales volumes in July, compared with the same month of 2010.

The expert claims such indications proof that many households are "thinking twice" about the amount they are willing to spend on their properties.