MORE than half of young people cannot change a light bulb, according to new research.

The simple task is among the everyday household chores that 18 to 24-year-olds struggle with. A quarter are unsure of how to boil an egg and two-thirds would be unable to successfully iron a shirt, says the new study by home interiors company Hillarys.

Of those who feel they are "generally not very competent" at DIY and housework, the majority blame their parents, the research has found.

Some 2,749 men and women took part in the survey, all aged between 18 and 24 and having lived independently for six months. They were asked about their know-how on jobs such as replacing a fuse, making the bed and setting the timer on a boiler.

The first question posed was, "How would you describe your abilities when it comes to household chores?" to which more than a quarter (27 per cent) stated they believe they are "generally not very competent". Forty-six per cent said they are "generally competent". A further 17 per cent said they are "entirely competent" and one in ten described themselves as "not competent at all" on housework.

When asked about their DIY prowess, far fewer young people were confident in their abilities, with just 15 per cent stating they are competent, outnumbered by the 85 per cent who felt they are not.

The following household jobs were revealed as the ten that 18-24 years olds are least able to do around the home:

1 replace a fuse - 76 per cent

2 set the timer on a boiler - 72 per cent

3 iron a shirt - 66 per cent

4 defrost a freezer - 59 per cent

5 change a light bulb - 51 per cent

6 make a bed - 49 per cent

7 put up a shelf - 44 per cent

8 remove lint from a tumble dryer - 37 per cent

9 clean an oven - 33 per cent

10 use a washing machine - 19 per cent.

Tanya Irons, of Hillarys, said: "Moving out of the family home and into your own place can be very daunting as it is, let alone if you don't know how to manage simple tasks like boiling an egg or making your bed in the morning.

"A lot of these jobs are seen as common sense but clearly, for some, it isn't the case and they need a little extra help establishing the basics. Learning to look after yourself is part of growing up and if you’re struggling there are lots of YouTube tutorials that can help you master it."