UK homebuyers seek air conditioning as summer heat spikes demand

The latest UK heatwave, with some English areas hitting 38 °C, drove a surge in online searches for houses featuring air conditioning, up 104 % from the same period a year earlier, according to property portal Rightmove. The platform's survey revealed that 61 % of potential buyers would contemplate adding cooling units, though only 12 % have already done so, and 87 % consider a property's ability to stay cool essential.

A Climate Change Committee report warned that 92 % of current homes may overheat by 2050, suggesting passive measures will be insufficient. Estimates place the number of UK homes with air conditioning at about 4 million, double the count three years ago, with remote working cited as a catalyst. Cooling specialists note rising demand, especially for rooms reaching extreme temperatures in loft conversions, while heat pumps emerge as a dual-purpose alternative.