Analysis finds 1.59 million children in England live in homes that regularly overheat

Nearly 1.59 million children in England live in homes that regularly overheat, according to analysis of the 2023 English Housing Survey by the National Housing Federation and the Chartered Institute of Housing. Of those children, 70,690 are under one year old.

The National Housing Federation stated that increasingly frequent warm weather is making it impossible for parents to keep homes comfortable regardless of measures such as closing curtains. The federation added that up to 92 percent of existing homes could eventually overheat, citing earlier projections from the Climate Change Committee.

Effects on children Polling of 1,592 parents commissioned by the National Housing Federation found that seven in ten said an overheated home disrupts their children's sleep and 49 percent said it affects concentration. The federation described these results as evidence of significant impacts on children's quality of life.

Kate Henderson, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, said overheating is already affecting large numbers of children and that housing associations are incorporating heat resilience into new homes but cannot address the issue alone.

Calls for policy changes Gavin Smart, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing, said building regulations should be strengthened and that policies may be needed to help households cover the energy costs of cooling. He also questioned whether the planned 1.5 million new homes will be designed for higher summer temperatures.

Dr Reyes Garcia of the University of Warwick said homes in Britain are increasingly feeling like ovens and that design focus must shift from winter heating to year-round thermal performance. Dr Chloe Brimicombe of the University of Oxford said infrastructure is not prepared for heat and called for prioritized cooling measures in care homes, hospitals, and schools.