NEARLY half of UK adults have help from professional service providers with the household chores.

New research for budget account provider thinkmoney has revealed that 45.5 per cent of people in the UK get help around the home. This is equivalent to more than 22.9million people across the country.

By far the most popular household service is the window cleaner, with nearly one in three (29.9 per cent) hiring someone to ensure their windows are sparkling. The joint second-most popular services are cleaners and gardeners, with 9.2 per cent of respondents respectively revealing they have someone to help keep their home clean and tidy, or mow their lawn.

The odd job or handyperson is the third-most popular service with the UK public, with nearly one in 10 (8.8 per cent) making use of these services around the home.

This may suggest that Britain’s well-known love affair with DIY is over, or that people are simply too busy with work and family to get around to doing these odd jobs. Interestingly, men are more likely than women to hire a handyperson (9.2 per cent compared to 8.5 per cent).

Surprisingly, 18 to 24-year-olds are the most likely to make use of outside help with household chores.

Exactly half of this age group admit they have hired some form of household service; with more than a quarter (27.2 per cent) revealing they have a cleaner – and presumably they’re not talking about their mum or dad!

Meanwhile, those aged between 45 and 54 years old are the least likely to get help with jobs around the home.

Other more unusual services people around the country take advantage of include having someone to help with the ironing (4.4 per cent), someone to clean the wheelie bin (5.5 per cent), and someone to clean the oven (4.9 per cent).

Spokesperson for thinkmoney Ian Williams said: “Many hardworking families have been feeling the squeeze over the last few years, but these findings show that time is money. When you’re busy at work all day, being able to spend the weekend with your friends and family without having to worry about household chores is incredibly valuable.

“In the end, whether or not you pay someone to help out with household chores is a judgement call. But, if your budget allows you to and doing so gives you back time to spend relaxing at home – rather than cleaning it – this could be money well spent.”