First-time buyers could be hit with nearly £30,000 in costs in first three months

First-time buyers could be hit with nearly £30,000 in costs within the first three months of picking up their keys – as they shell out thousands on furniture, decorating, and essential appliances.

A study of 1,000 adults who bought their first home in the past five years found those furnishing their space spent an average of £3,487 on the likes of sofas, coffee tables and beds.

While kitchen appliances – such as air fryers, coffee machines, and toasters – added another £2,662, and redecorating to suit their style came in at £2,118 on average.

Others spent just shy of £3,000 on home décor – filling their new property with items like plants, wall art, and rugs.

Those who hired a removal company forked out around £1,747 – and once the deal was done, many were faced with repairs, including electrical work (£1,914) and roof fixes (£1,759).

The research was commissioned by Skipton Building Society to mark the launch of its Delayed Start Mortgage – a new mortgage product which allows first-time buyers to delay repayments for the first three months, giving them breathing space to get settled into their new home.