Chore wars

Back

Despite Brits working longer and harder hours, new research2 out today reveals that couples are still managing to clock up 264 minutes a week arguing about the marital nest - the equivalent to almost 10 days a year3.

According to the study by esure home insurance, British couples have on average 135 domestic rifts a year with 13 per cent of couples surveyed arguing at least once a day. Suggesting not all silence is golden; one in five (20 per cent) couples spend at least a day giving each other the silent treatment after an argument about household chores.

The research found that it's the small niggling things that cause the biggest rows, with leaving clothes strewn around the house named the prime cause of household disputes (35 per cent). Over one in four couples questioned (28 per cent) cited putting off home improvements as the second biggest bug bear, closely followed by arguing about the washing up, which came in with nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of the votes.

Other reasons for arguments around the home included concealing or not owning up to spills and stains (9 per cent) - and women's pet hate, leaving the toilet seat up (10 per cent).

One in seven couples polled (15 per cent) admitted that they regularly fib to their other halves about why they have not completed their domestic duties.

In fact, 29 per cent of couples admitted to using their work as an excuse, 24 per cent blamed their children for not doing their household chores and one in ten (11 per cent) even held their pets accountable.

Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at esure home insurance, said: "Forgetting to take the rubbish out or making a shoddy DIY attempt may not seem like serious crimes but as the research shows, domestic chores and household responsibilities can cause arguments in even the most stable of relationships.

More importantly, putting off home improvements, not fixing broken or faulty appliances, trying to conceal damage or spillages and leaving DIY job half-finished or poorly completed could all turn into hazards around the home and result in hefty bills and even more rowing. That’s why it’s crucial for homeowners to have adequate home insurance and accidental damage cover for peace of mind and peace at home!"

Top ten domestic disputes:

  1. Leaving clothes lying around the house (35 per cent)
  2. Putting off home improvements (28 per cent)
  3. Doing the washing up (24 per cent)
  4. Not fixing broken household items (17 per cent)
  5. Not taking the rubbish out (17 per cent)
  6. Not making the bed (12 per cent)
  7. Leaving the toilet seat up (10 per cent)
  8. Hiding or not owning up to damage (9 per cent)
  9. Not emptying the dishwasher (9 per cent)
  10. Doing shoddy DIY (6 per cent)

* other = 22 per cent

Gender divide
According to the research, men are far more likely to tell porkies, with one in six (18 per cent) admitting that they always tell a white lie when they have not done, or want to get out of doing, their household chores compared with just 7 per cent of women. In addition, a third of men (33 per cent) use or have used past aches and pains as a way of getting out of domestic duties.

Unsurprisingly perhaps, women cited DIY as the biggest cause of domestic disputes with home improvements, fixing broken household items and shoddy DIY totalling 59 per cent of the overall vote. Regions that argue the most (minutes spent arguing per week):

  1. North West (384 minutes)
  2. Northern Ireland (366 minutes)
  3. London (330 minutes)
  4. South East (318 minutes)
  5. West Midlands (306 minutes)
  6. North East (300 minutes)
  7. East Midlands (246 minutes)
  8. Scotland (222 minutes)
  9. South West (216 minutes)
  10. Yorkshire (210 minutes)
  11. Eastern (156 minutes)
  12. Wales (78 minutes)

- ends -

esure's press contacts:

For further information please contact the esure press office at Mischief PR on 020 7100 9999 or email esure@mischiefpr.com
An ISDN line is available for radio interviews

Notes to Editors:

  1. Calculation: 4.4 (average hours spent arguing per week) x 60 (minutes in an hour) = 264 (minutes per week) ÷ 7 (days in a week) = 37.71 minutes spent arguing per day.
  2. esure used the independent online research company FlyResearch who surveyed 1,007 UK men and women in relationships, from across the country aged 18 and over, between 29th December and 3rd January 2010. Fly Research is an online market research company. Its researchers are members of the MRS and Esomar, and abide by their guidelines. Further information at www.flyresearch.com.
  3. Calculation: 264 (minutes spent arguing per week) x 52 (weeks in a year) = 13,728 (minutes spent arguing a year) ÷ 1440 (minutes per day) = 9.53 (days spent arguing a year).

About esure:

esure was launched in 2001. The company offers car, home, pet and travel insurance over the internet and by phone. esure also offers car insurance cover through the brands Halifax, Sainsbury’s, Sheilas' Wheels and more recently home insurance through the Sheilas' Wheels brand.