Hot homes: What are my obligations when the mercury rises?

With record-breaking temperatures predicted this week, we look at the issue of excess heat in rental homes, how to address it and your responsibilities as a landlord.

How hot is too hot - what does the law say?

Excess heat is recognised is listed as a risk under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), which defines the hazard as ‘threats from excessively high indoor air temperatures’.

And this isn’t just about feeling uncomfortable, with Government figures from summer 2022 – when UK temperatures hit a record-breaking 40 degrees – showing there were around 3,000 excess deaths associated with heatwaves. A total of 1,500 were recorded last year.

Yet while there are parameters for excessively low temperatures (room temperatures must be at least 18°C in bedrooms and 21°C in living areas), these do not exist at the other end of the scale, with no firm figures for what is considered ‘too hot’ laid out in the HHSRS.

That doesn’t mean that excess heat isn’t a problem, particularly where more vulnerable tenants are concerned.

Elderly people are particularly at risk with some existing health conditions, such as  cardiovascular disease, making it more difficult for sufferers to cope with high temperatures. The HHSRS also highlights an increased risk of strokes where temperatures hit 25°C or more.

Government reports have also identified types of homes that are most at risk of overheating, with top floor flats, particularly those in urban environments disproportionately susceptible to excess heat.

Is there anything I need to do?

There is no legal requirement for landlords in the UK to provide fans or air conditioning, however you must ensure there is adequate ventilation to the property and be mindful of the HHSRS rules, not least with new rules set to introduce £7k on-the-spot fines for breaches.

The Climate Change Committee says ‘low-cost measures, and behavioural changes’ should provide a first line of defence during periods of high temperatures, so think about practical ways you can support or advise your tenants.

This could include, for example, providing a fan, or fitting blinds, shutters or reflective window film – or even simply advising them of when to open windows to promote airflow through the property. Installing air conditioning is also an option, although this will, of course, come at a cost.

Air-to-air-source heat pumps include a cooling (as well as heating) feature, but, at present, there are caveats when it comes to funding if you would be replying on Government grants to pay for installation.

What are we seeing on the ground?

We asked you if you have done anything to tackle overheating in your properties, as part of our 2026 all-landlord survey, with more than half, 56%, saying you had fitted measures to reduce excess heat.

This is despite only 26% saying it was something your tenants had raised concerns about.

The most popular were the introduction of wall-mounted air cooling or air conditioning units, with 68% of those who had made changes installing these in their properties.

Elsewhere 44% said they had put in blinds or shutters and 40% said they had advised tenants on ventilation. Other measures included the installation of ceiling fans or free-standing air conditioning units. [Landlords were able to give more than one answer to this question]

What about new MEES rules, will they mean my home is hotter in summer?

UK homes of all tenures aren’t designed to cope with excessively high temperatures, however the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNEZ) says energy efficiency retrofits, such as wall and loft insulation, generally do not increase the risk of summer overheating, provided the home is adequately ventilated – and can in fact keep rooms cooler by blocking the transfer of outside heat.

The reference to adequate ventilation, however, is key, and if energy efficiency measures are installed without this, they can considerably exacerbate the risk of overheating , leading to stuffy properties at risk of developing mould.

To avoid this, experts are encouraging homeowners of all tenures to ensure they take a ‘whole home’ approach when commissioning any retrofit works assessing how each improvement will impact on other areas of the property.

More information

• For more information on our campaign on new energy efficiency targets – and the funding pots available click here.
• For more information on HHSRS click here.
• The NRLA also runs a property standards and safety course outlining your obligations, which is being updated to include the new rules. To find out more and to book your place click here.   
• For more information on our retrofit partner Domna click here.