NewsUK Newsproperty newsA new poll shows most households have up to 10 issues in their homes that they are putting off fixing – but experts say the tasks are often simpler than you thinkRichard Jenkins14:49, 20 May 2026The most frequently overlooked household repairs are peeling paint, mouldy sealant and blocked gutters, new research has revealed. More than two thirds (63%) of adults have up to 10 issues in their homes that they are currently putting off dealing with.‌In the survey of 2,000 adults, a third said problems go unaddressed due to lack of motivation. Meanwhile a fifth have too many other things on their minds, or feel stressed. However, unresolved tasks can leave many people feeling worse.‌More than half glance at their list of household problems at least once a week, and two thirds acknowledge their to-do list weighs on their mind regularly. This can leave nearly three quarters of people feeling overwhelmed, and a quarter feel guilty. Many others fear that the issues will only deteriorate the longer they're left unattended.‌Yet, more than half (54%) admit that the tasks are much simpler than anticipated when they finally get round to tackling them, and they experience a sense of relief once they are completed.The research was commissioned by Smart Energy GB, which is urging households to book their smart meter switch-out appointment as soon as they are contacted by their energy supplier.‌TV property expert Scarlette Douglas, who has developed a set of practical tips to help tackle the domestic to-do list, said: "It's completely natural to feel overwhelmed by the day-to-day demands of running a household."When our minds are full, it's easy for less urgent tasks to slip down the list, adding to the invisible mental load we all carry."One way to manage this is to tackle small tasks as soon as you can - even simple actions, like booking an appointment, can give a sense of relief and make you feel lighter mentally once it's done.‌"That's why, when your supplier contacts you about switching out your older smart meter hardware for new kit, it's worth acting straight away."One quick engineer visit will ensure you keep your automated readings, accurate bills, and access to flexible schemes and tariffs."A Smart Energy GB spokesperson said: "It's natural to have lots of things to touch up or repair in your home, but as the list gets longer it can become overwhelming.Article continues below"Once we begin chipping away at our tasks we often feel lighter, and as our research shows, it's often easier than we expect."SCARLETTE DOUGLAS' TOP 7 WAYS TO TACKLE YOUR DOMESTIC TO-DO LIST:Write it down - getting tasks out of your head and onto paper instantly makes things feel more manageable.Tackle the quick jobs - if it only takes a few minutes, do it straight away and enjoy the mental relief.Face the jobs you keep delaying - the longer you put things off, the bigger they feel, so getting them done early can prevent stress building up.Share the responsibility - running a home isn’t a one person job, so share the loadLet tech help you - tools like smart meters and mobile phone apps exist to make life easier.Act when you’re contacted - booking appointments for household services as soon as you’re contacted helps keep your to do list under control.Be gentle with yourself - you don’t need to do everything at once; small wins still count.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌property newsCleaningDiyersScarlette Douglas