A recent study by Citizens Advice has revealed that one in six people in the UK have resorted to drastic measures to manage the ongoing heatwaves. These measures include sleeping in unusual places such as kitchens, gardens, or balconies, missing work through sick days or unpaid leave, and even booking hotels to escape the heat.
The charity emphasises that millions are “trapped in homes they can’t cool,” with nearly half (44%) of respondents feeling powerless to prevent their houses from overheating. Many have had to rely on makeshift solutions like taping tin foil, cardboard, or damp sheets to windows in an attempt to reduce indoor temperatures.
The survey highlights that poorly designed homes, which act as “heat traps,” combined with the high cost of cooling equipment like air conditioning, leave many feeling helpless against the rising temperatures. Notably, half (51%) of tenants-including private renters and those in social housing-reported lacking basic control over overheating in their homes, compared to 40% of homeowners. Additionally, around 90,000 heat network consumers cannot turn off central heating even during summer months.
Citizens Advice chief executive Dame Clare Moriarty stated, “For far too many people, a summer heatwave doesn’t mean enjoying the sun – it means being trapped in a sweltering home with no control over the temperature. We’re now facing a year-round crisis, where poorly designed housing stock is acting as a giant heat trap in summer and as an ice box in winter.”
She called on the Government to seize the opportunity presented by the Warm Homes Plan to improve insulation, ventilation, and upgrade heat networks. “By investing in these areas, we can ensure people’s homes are warmer in the winter and safer and cooler in the summer,” Moriarty added.
Responding to the findings, a Government spokesperson noted, “We are changing the rules so that for the first time ever people can access grants for air-to-air heat pumps, which can cool as well as heat homes.”
The spokesperson also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen protections for tenants facing dangerous overheating and ensure new residential buildings are designed to minimise unwanted solar heat gain.
The findings are based on a survey conducted by Yonder, which gathered responses from 2,105 UK adults on 1-2 July.