Quarter of UK homes to be extended

Nearly a quarter of the nation's homes are set to grow in size by the end of the recession, it has been asserted.

Figures from a recent AA Personal Loans survey found almost one in four (24 per cent) residences expected to be extended as homeowners put their own needs above resale value.

The poll found households are taking a longer term view of their property, treating the work done as an investment.

Almost a sixth (15 per cent) of respondents wished to create a new room to act as an extension to their office, while 23 per cent wanted extra space to entertain.

When asked why they were making improvements, almost six in ten (57 per cent) homeowners said they wished for a nicer living environment, compared to 32 per cent who intended to add value.

Head of AA Personal Loans Mark Huggins explained people still want to invest in extensions in spite of the recession.

"Although many would expect demand for home improvement loans to be less during the recession, our figures show that their popularity is actually unchanged," he said.

The National Landlords Association recently announced its female members expect the credit crunch to end in nine months.