New international study proves Britain really is a nation of gardeners, second only to Germany

British homeowners are devoted to their gardens. Germany embraces cottagecore-inspired living, while the Netherlands stands out for solar-powered homes and sustainable living. Though homeowner habits vary across countries, people share a common goal: creating homes that fit their lives. To better understand those differences and similarities, MyBuilder, in collaboration with its international family of home services marketplaces (including its parent company Angi in the US) today released findings from its first International Homeowners’ Study.

The study surveyed nearly 5,000 homeowners across 10 countries - the UK, Canada, the US, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, Japan and Brazil - uncovering notable differences in everything from home maintenance habits and renovation priorities to household rituals, design preferences, and what people consider the “heart of the home.”

“Homeownership isn’t one-size-fits-all,” said Angie Hicks, co-founder of Angi. “This study shows that while homeowners around the world approach home very differently - from sustainability priorities to household customs, to what people consider the heart of the home - the meaning behind it is often remarkably similar. No matter where they live, people are ultimately trying to create homes that support the lives they want to live.”

Some notable British stats revealed that:

78% of British homeowners say outdoor space is essential - second only to Germany - and 72% tended their garden in the past year. 23% say they couldn't live without a conservatory or sunroom in their ideal home.
4 in 10 Brits say they would rather pack up and move than renovate, if their home no longer met their needs - compared to just 8% of Germans, the starkest contrast in the study.
Just 12% of British homeowners have solar panels, compared to 54% in the Netherlands and 32% in Germany - one of the lowest rates of home energy adoption in the study.
14% of Brits feel stressed about what their home looks like and what others think of it - the highest rate of any European country in the study, and just one point behind the US.
British Boomers are twice as likely as Gen Z to comfortably afford all necessary repairs (45% vs 20%) - a 25-percentage-point gap that reveals two very different experiences of British homeownership
Almost half of Brits (48%) are stressed by unexpected or emergency repairs and over a third (32%) are stressed with the time and effort required to maintain their home

Other fascinating stats reveal that:

Across nearly all countries, homeowners describe their home as a personal sanctuary. Germany leads at 73%, followed by South Korea (70%) and the UK, US, Australia and the Netherlands (66% each).
When it comes to decor styles, homeowners across countries are gravitating toward “light and natural” aesthetics - warm woods, soft neutrals and clean lines - led by South Korea (32%), the Netherlands (28%), France (27%). Germany stands apart: nearly one-third of homeowners (32%) favour a cozy, cottagecore or rustic aesthetic - the highest rate across countries and more than double the share who prefer modern or minimalist design (15%).
France is the DIY champion of the study, with 65% of homeowners handling most repairs themselves - the highest rate.
Japan and Canada are the strictest “shoes-off” households, with 69% enforcing no-shoes rules, nearly double the US rate (37%)