Analysis published on 25 June 2026 by the National Housing Federation and Chartered Institute of Housing estimated that more than 70,000 babies in England were living in homes affected by overheating.
What the estimate measures
The NHF’s methodological note identifies 70,690 children under one in affected homes, using English Housing Survey data. The survey relies on households reporting overheating; it is not a national programme of continuous indoor-temperature measurement.
The organisations also reported wider concerns about children’s comfort and sleep. Those findings should be read as survey evidence, rather than a diagnosis of an individual child’s health or proof that a particular building caused illness.
A housing-management issue
The housing bodies called for a coordinated approach to making social homes more resilient to heat. Their statement described shading and ventilation as measures being considered within improvement programmes.
For property managers, the distinction between a national estimate and an individual assessment matters. A headline cannot establish the condition of a specific dwelling. Reports of excessive heat should prompt consideration of that home’s circumstances and suitable professional advice, rather than assumptions based only on national averages.
This archive article reports the June 2026 analysis. It does not offer infant-health advice or replace advice from a healthcare professional.