"A true Warm Homes Plan must protect people in all seasons. That means better insulation to keep homes cool, proper ventilation to stop overheating, and a housing strategy based on public health, not just energy bills"
- Jenny Danson - Healthy Homes Hub
Housing and health experts are urging the Government to expand its Warm Homes Plan into a full Cool Homes Strategy, warning that millions of UK homes are dangerously unprepared for rising summer temperatures.
The call follows confirmation from the Met Office that June was the hottest on record in England, with an estimated 263 heat-related deaths in London alone, according to analysis by Imperial College London. Campaigners say that without urgent action on overheating, thousands more lives could be at risk.
The National Warm Homes Council – which represents small businesses delivering energy upgrades – says overheating in poorly insulated homes is a “health crisis hiding in plain sight”. The group is calling for a year-round strategy that ensures homes are kept safe in both summer and winter.
“This summer’s soaring temperatures haven’t just been uncomfortable. They’ve been deadly,” said Dave Raval, director of the National Warm Homes Council. “We need to get serious about keeping homes safe in summer, not just warm in winter. Older people, those with health conditions, and families in badly insulated homes are at real risk. Just as we rightly invest in winter warmth, we now urgently need a Cool Homes Plan to keep people safe in the summer too.”
The Government’s £13.2 billion Warm Homes Plan, expected to be published in full this autumn, aims to improve the energy efficiency of five million homes. But while the scheme is focused on cutting winter fuel bills and carbon emissions, campaigners say it lacks the necessary safeguards to protect residents during heatwaves.
Most UK homes were designed to retain heat, not stay cool. Unprotected loft spaces, poor insulation, and blocked ventilation leave many properties prone to overheating, particularly in densely built urban areas or homes with vulnerable occupants.
“Extreme heat is no longer rare. It’s a threat to health right now," comments Jenny Danson, CEO of the Healthy Homes Hub. "A true Warm Homes Plan must protect people in all seasons. That means better insulation to keep homes cool, proper ventilation to stop overheating, and a housing strategy based on public health, not just energy bills.”
Research shows that combining protected insulation with adequate ventilation is the most effective way to keep homes cool and reduce humidity and heat stress. However, campaigners say fewer than 1% of UK lofts currently have protected insulation, and many lose performance when insulation is crushed by stored items.
The National Warm Homes Council is calling on ministers to treat indoor overheating as a rising public health risk and to mandate protected loft insulation and scaled-up ventilation upgrades as part of a Cool Homes Strategy.
