The cost of carrying out home improvements in the UK has risen by a fifth over the last two years, driven up by a shortage of skilled tradespeople, it has been revealed.

According to research from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, rising transport and material costs also contributed to the 26 per cent increase in roofing bills, 22 per cent increase in plumbing and electric costs and 17 per cent rise in decorating.

Joe Martin, executive director of Rics building costs information service, Bcis, explained that the housing slump has caused many homeowners to stay put where they are and improve rather than moving, something that has created extra demand for the services of skilled tradespeople.

"Many are choosing to stay put and renovate or extend in order to upgrade their property rather than taking on more debt in a falling market," he said.

"This can be a wise strategy as home improvements add value to a property, and people will be well placed to take advantage of this uplift in value when the market shrugs off the current slump."

According to Halifax Home Insurance, some seven million British households are living with a home renovation task that has yet to be completed. Of those, 1.7 million had been living in such a way for more than two years.