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A Lloyds TSB report claims that homeowner spending on 'everyday DIY' has fallen to it's lowest level since 1998.

The 12 year low, whilst bad news for the DIY retail market could also be bad news for homeowners.

With consumer spending on home 'maintenance' falling, there's fears that UK housing could be de-valued further as properties are allowed to fall into worsening states of dis-repair and decorative condition.

Reluctance by consumers to spend has seen a 13% fall from £10.9 billion in 2009 to £9.5 billion in 2010 on consumer spending in the DIY industry.

The results are evident with DIY chain Focus recently announcing the closure of 120 outlets with the loss of more than 3,000 jobs.

The total amount spent on home maintenance also fell by 9% last year.

However, some economists believe that many homeowners are not blind to the benefits of regular home maintenance and will find the extra cash for essential maintenance, warning the dangers of leaving jobs till they're too late can result in even larger bills.

">Roof's, guttering and plumbing and heating systems are the main areas of home maintenance that should never be ignored. Old ">windows and doors as well as making your home more costly to heat can also be an invitation to burglars to break in.

As we reported a while ago, many homeowners are currently risking un-insurance of their home's contents and possessions in an attempt to save money.