Over 12 million UK adults rely on AI to help them around the home, though over half are still sceptical*

• Gen Z most likely to adopt the tech for home fixes, with over a third (36%) admitting to following its instructions
• Yet, 58% are hesitant to use it, with concerns that AI advice might not be safe or accurate
• Home assistance provider HomeServe has reviewed top AI platforms to evaluate their advice

The top jobs people are using AI for include fixing a leaking tap (32%), unblocking a sink or drain (32%) and bleeding radiators (30%). However, almost six in 10 (58%) are still hesitant to hand over the reins to robots, not trusting the accuracy or safety of the advice it gives them. Equally, 47% of those surveyed think advice from AI is conflicting or unclear.

In response, HomeServe conducted a review of AI’s advice when it came to fixing these issues. They asked leading AI sites – ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity – nine home maintenance questions based on top queries on HomeServe’s Knowledge Hub website. While Perplexity provided well-structured responses with a balance between explanation and direct instructions, they found that ChatGPT lacks nuance when troubleshooting issues and Gemini could be overly wordy making key steps harder to follow***.

Reassuringly then, 65% would call in an expert for peace of mind, while a similar number (66%) do not trust AI for anything complex. When it comes to trickier tasks like installing new lighting, a thermostat or a plug socket, only 16% would consider using AI, dropping to 13% for replacing a radiator.

“AI can be a useful tool for understanding a task but knowing when to call in a professional is key.” said Brian Sweeney, HomeServe’s Home Expert. “There's no substitute for expert knowledge, especially when it comes to tricky home repairs. While AI can provide a starting point, the support from a skilled professional provides both safety and reassurance that your home is in the right hands.”

About the research

Unless otherwise stated, data is based on Opinium commissioned research amongst 2,000 UK adults (18+) in February 2025.

*According to latest ONS figures there are 53.6 million adults in the UK (18+). Consumer polling from an Opinium survey shows that 23% of UK adults have used AI tools for home maintenance or repair tasks, which equates to 12.2 million UK adults.

**According to the Opinium survey, the UK average for each generation who are most likely to use AI are the following: 36% Gen Z, 34% Millennials, 20% Gen X, 12% Baby Boomer and 3% Silent Generation.

***HomeServe’s review was based on top search queries to the HomeServe Knowledge Hub to identify nine topics. HomeServe asked three of the leading AI sites 9 questions related to these topics and analysed the results. The review took place during February 2025.