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Many Swedes fine with using black market services

TT/The Local
TT/The Local - [email protected]
Many Swedes fine with using black market services

Many Swedes have no problem with the idea of turning to the black market for household improvement services, and according to a new survey, 13 percent have already done so.

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Insurance company If commissioned TNS Gallup to interview 1,000 people about their attitudes toward paying people under the table for work on home renovation projects.

The results showed that 44 percent of Swedes could imagine doing employing black market services.

More than half of 16- to 29-year-olds would do so or already have done so, compared to 38 percent of respondents over age 60.

According to the survey, one if five respondents have had difficulty finding labourers and craftsmen, and thus find it faster to do the work themselves or employ black market services.

Interest in home improvement television programs is booming, which entices many to go ahead and fix up their cabin during the summer, or renovate their living room and kitchen during the autumn.

But according to If, the growing amount of home improvement work carried out under the table brings with it a number of risks.

If black market labourers don’t perform their work correctly, the cost of repairs aren’t covered by insurance.

A licenced firm, on the other hand, often has its own insurance to cover the costs of fixing mistakes.

According to the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket), black market services deprive the state of 66 billion kronor ($10 billion) every year.

A majority of Sweden’s black market labourers find work in the construction and building industry.

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