In the wake of a record-breaking heatwave, and with experts warning that 2026 may be the hottest year in history, overheating of homes is becoming an increasingly pressing issue.
While many of us welcome longer days and warmer weather, excessive indoor temperatures can have serious consequences. Overheating can lead to health issues such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke, dehydration, and disrupted sleep, particularly for vulnerable residents, including older people, young children, and those with existing health conditions.
Why Overheating is Becoming a Growing Concern
Climate change is driving an increase in extreme heat during UK summers. According to the Met Office, temperatures hit 28°C twice as frequently in the decade leading up to 2024 as they did between 1961 and 1990. They hit 30°C three times as often.
As the UK continues to improve the energy efficiency of its housing stock, homes are becoming better insulated and more airtight. While this brings clear benefits during colder months, these same improvements can make it difficult for properties to shed excess heat in extreme hot weather.
For social landlords, overheating presents not only a health risk but also a potential compliance risk. Excess heat is recognised as a hazard under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). Where hazardous indoor temperatures are identified, social landlords could face Local Authority enforcement action or legal challenges under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018.
In addition, the UK Government is expected to introduce Phase 2 of Awaab’s Law in October 2026, extending requirements to include hazards such as excess heat. This will place further responsibilities on social landlords to identify, investigate, and address overheating risks within their housing stock within strict timeframes.
With regulatory requirements tightening and extreme weather becoming more frequent, proactive monitoring has never been more important.
Landlords: Identifying Homes at Risk
Social landlords using Aico’s Ei1020 and Ei1025 Environmental Sensors, alongside the Ei1000G Gateway, can proactively identify and manage properties that may be at risk of overheating.
Through the HomeLINK Dashboard, housing providers can identify properties at risk of overheating at a glance, enabling housing teams to quickly identify homes that may require attention.
For deeper investigation, landlords can access detailed property-level information, including:
- Identification of specific rooms experiencing elevated temperatures
- Historical temperature trends to determine whether overheating is a short-term event or a recurring issue, with clear indications of the minimum and maximum recommended temperatures
- Property-specific environmental data to support informed decision-making
Temperature alerts can also be configured, giving housing providers the option to flag properties exceeding predefined thresholds are automatically for review.
By providing visibility of overheating risks, HomeLINK enables landlords to take a proactive approach to resident safety while supporting compliance with evolving regulatory requirements.
Empowering Residents to Stay Safe
As part of the HomeLINK solution, landlords can also provide residents with access to the Resident app. This app gives residents insight into the health of their homes, including temperatures in each room with an environmental sensor.
Our app lets residents track temperatures in their homes, notifies them when high temperatures are detected, and gives them practical advice for how to reduce excess heat in their home.
The Resident app is a great complement to our HomeLINK dashboard, empowering residents to make simple changes that keep them and their homes safe, while ensuring that housing providers have the insight they need to make informed decisions about safety and maintenance.
Looking Ahead
As climate change continues to drive more frequent and intense periods of extreme heat, monitoring and managing overheating risks will become an increasingly important responsibility for social landlords.
HomeLINK provides the insight needed to identify at-risk properties, support residents, and demonstrate a proactive approach to compliance. With Phase 2 of Awaab’s Law on the horizon, now is the time to ensure the right processes and technologies are in place.
To find out how HomeLINK can help your organisation, book a demo here
