Over 50 per cent of young people lack the basic skills needed to maintain their homes, a new survey has revealed.The study, which was conducted by Halifax home Insurance, suggests that the majority of youngsters still rely on their parents to carry out basic maintenance tasks.Senior claims manager for Halifax Home Insurance, Martyn Foulds says that the results of the research clearly demonstrate that younger people are lacking in the experience and knowledge to carry out even basic DIY.This indicates a significant number of younger householders could be storing up problems for the future, as the lack of home maintenance starts to take its toll on their homes, he adds.In light of this, Halifax recommends that homeowners looking to carry out improvements, such as upgrading their kitchen sink, call a professional.According to the results of the study, homeowners in Wales and the South West consider themselves most adept at DIY, while Scottish householders consider themselves the least confident in their abilities.