A historic survey, not a temperature check of every home
Research publicised by the University of East London in April 2025 found that 80% of surveyed households reported overheating during summer 2022, compared with 18% in 2011. The university described a national survey involving nearly 1,600 households, led by Dr Mehri Khosravi and published in Energy Research & Social Science.
These are reports of household experience during a particular summer. They should not be presented as a measurement proving that four in five homes overheat today, or as a diagnosis of a property offered for sale. The dates and method matter when using the finding in a housing discussion.
Add summer comfort to the viewing questions
Buyers commonly ask about winter heating bills. It is also worth asking which rooms become uncomfortable in summer, when that happens and what the occupants currently do about it. Record the answers alongside the orientation, glazing and available shading you can see at the viewing.
A single visit on a cool day will not settle the question. Ask whether the seller has records or a professional assessment, and distinguish a documented improvement from a suggestion that has never been tested. For a flat, find out who controls changes to external features and communal systems before budgeting for alterations.
Treat a proposed solution as a design question
Avoid assuming that one purchase will solve every source of discomfort. Ask a suitably qualified professional to explain the options for the particular building, including how they fit with ventilation, security, noise and the way rooms are used. Obtain the full installation and running-cost picture before committing to mechanical cooling.
This is also useful for landlords planning refurbishment. Keep a clear record of tenants’ reported problems, the rooms affected and any inspections or work. That provides a better brief for a contractor than a general request to make the property cooler.
Separate evidence from a sales claim
An energy label, a national statistic and a seller’s account answer different questions. Put them together thoughtfully rather than treating any one of them as a complete assessment. The practical lesson from the research is to include summer comfort in due diligence, then investigate the individual home on its own evidence.
Source: [University of East London’s April 2025 account of the research](https://www.uel.ac.uk/about-uel/news/2025/april/uel-study-finds-80-uk-homes-overheat-summer).