31/07/2006

It takes British parents over two years after their kids have flown the nest to finally accept they won’t be coming back, according to a new survey.

New research by Churchill Home Insurance shows parents will cling on to the memory of their kids growing up for as long as they can. Parents only start re-decorating a son or daughter’s room when the kids hit an important life stage.

Nearly a fifth of parents think that the ideal time to start pulling down posters and re-decorating is when their kids have moved out with a long-term partner (17%). However, 16% of parents take the more traditional view and wait until a child is married before they start choosing a new colour scheme.

One in ten (12%) won’t change the room until a son or daughter has bought their own property. But a further one in ten (10%) are brave enough to risk clearing out their kids’ bedrooms as soon as their offspring have finished their degree or college course.

However, there are a number of parents who refuse to touch their kids’ bedrooms until long after they have flown the nest. 15% will leave them completely intact, keeping the décor, posters and shelves full of toys just as the kids left them.

On average, parents will wait two years and three months after a child has left home to start changing rooms around. But the research shows most children want their parents to move on and only expect parents to keep their room the same for just over a year.

Martin Scott, Head of Churchill Home Insurance, comments:

“The research clearly shows that whilst the usage of children’s old bedrooms will change over time, typically this does not occur in the immediate aftermath of children leaving home.”

The research also reveals the top five uses for a child’s old bedroom:

Top 5 Uses For A Child’s Old Bedroom

1. Spare bedroom for guests (40%)
2. Becomes younger sibling’s room (12%)
3. Second sitting room (10%)
4. Study / computer room (9.5%)
5. Storage room for clutter (8%)

Furthermore, householders who have re-decorated their kids’ bedrooms believe the changes they make can increase the value of their properties by around £3,200.

Almost 30% of children use their parents’ home as a dustbin by leaving behind all the belongings they don’t want when they move out. A further 18% leave unwanted belongings in storage at their parents’ house.

Scott adds:

“Interestingly, a number of children leaving home prefer to keep belongings in storage in the longer term at their parents’ house rather than clutter their own properties.”

* Research commissioned by Churchill Home Insurance with 2,276 UK adults, June 2006

For more information please contact:

Abi Clark
Churchill Insurance
020 8313 5830
pressoffice@churchill.com