Our summers are getting hotter. England recently had its warmest June in history, at nearly 3°C above the long-term average. This came on the tail of an unprecedented late May heatwave, and experts expect a continued increase in extreme heat going forward.
This is creating a real problem for social housing providers, who are increasingly seeing overheating homes at the same time as the regulatory burden on them increases. In this article, we’ll explore the increasing problem of overheated properties in the UK, look at root causes and how landlords can address them, and see how HomeLINK can help landlords prepare for the upcoming regulatory requirements under Awaab’s Law.
The ever-increasing problem of overheated homes
Climate change has made overheating increasingly common in UK homes. According to the UK’s Climate Change Committee, half of UK homes are currently at risk of overheating, with this figure estimated to rise to 92% by 2050.
Our own data supports this. Our data science lead, Dr Silviu Nistor, analysed average indoor temperatures during the peak of the June heatwave and the results were striking. Across nearly all of England and Wales, and even in parts of Scotland, average temperatures exceeded 25°C. In fact, in some of the worst affected areas in south and southwest England, average indoor temperatures exceeded 32°C.
What is an unsafe temperature in a property
There is no strict legal threshold for when indoor temperatures at a property are unsafe, but there are a number of thresholds that landlords should be aware of:
- At 24°C, the WHO says that temperatures can start to cause discomfort or harm for vulnerable groups
- 25°C is the threshold at which, according to the 2016 BRE Guidance Document on overheating, a noticeable increase in strokes and mortality occurs. It is also indicated in HHSRS as a ceiling for heating during the winter
- According to CIBSE TM59, temperatures should not exceed 28°C for more than 1% of sleeping hours
In our HomeLINK solution, we use 25°C as the starting point when calculating overheating risk, calibrating according to factors like outside temperature to give a view of risk that is responsive to changing conditions.
However, it’s also important to note that the risk will depend on the context. The same temperature is far more dangerous for an elderly resident in a top-floor flat in London than a healthy adult in a semi-detached in the North-East.
Tackling overheating in properties
While the recent extreme heat has meant that many properties are experiencing high indoor temperatures, there are a variety of factors that can increase the risk of overheating, and simple fixes that landlords can make to address them.
Poor thermal insulation can make it easier for outside heat to get into properties. Additional insulation, for example draft sealing, double glazing, and external or cavity insulation for walls can help keep heat out during hot periods. For top floor apartments, additional insulation or even a reflective coating over the roof can have a real impact.
While highly insulated properties are effective at keeping heat out, they can also trap heat as temperatures drop at night. In this scenario, ‘air purge ventilation’, for example opening doors or windows and running a fan where possible, can help remove hot air and cool the flat.
West or South facing windows might also absorb solar heat over the course of the day. Awnings, blinds, shutters, and shading can all reduce this heat gain. Electrical and cooking appliances can also generate heat inside the home. Eco-friendly appliances and ventilation near cooking devices can help to manage this.
Identifying your at-risk properties
In October, Awaab’s Law Phase 2 will expand the existing inspection and repair deadlines from Awaab’s Law Phase 1 to seven new categories of hazard, including extreme heat. As our colleague Gareth Butler discussed, this has serious implications for English social housing providers.
In a similarly hot future summer, social housing providers will be under considerable pressure to respond to hazardous heat within tight timescales. Reducing overheating risk takes time and, if they don’t take preventive measures ahead of time, housing providers could face an unmanageable flood of complaints.
With HomeLINK, there is an easier way. Our sensors continually monitor temperature, humidity and CO2 inside homes to provide a variety of insights into the health and safety risks at the property, including overheating.
On our dashboard, you can see at a glance which properties are at a high risk of overheating. You can even choose to receive alerts when potentially hazardous temperatures are reached. Residents are also provided with live temperature data within their homes, enabling them to recognise when they may need to act.
With this information, you’ll be able to not only identify properties where there is a high level of overheating now, but also assess risk levels across your portfolio, enabling you to make the preparations now that will put you in the best possible position once Awaab’s Law phase 2 comes into force. By next summer, it may already be too late.
