Ever wondered if your home is secretly making you sick? A shocking new report reveals that over half of England’s children live in homes at risk of overheating, leading to serious health issues. This isn’t just about comfort; it’s about the very well-being of our youngest. What can be done to cool down this growing crisis?
A looming silent crisis in England’s housing sector sees millions of children residing in homes dangerously susceptible to overheating, a condition increasingly linked to severe health issues and profound distress for families.
New analysis from the Resolution Foundation reveals a staggering figure: over half of all children in England, roughly 5.5 million, live in dwellings at high risk of becoming unbearably hot. This pervasive issue is particularly acute in urban centers like London, where more than a million children in social housing are disproportionately affected by the housing crisis and its climate change impacts.
Parents across the country are voicing desperate concerns, describing their living environments as “unbearably” hot, leading to restless nights and tangible health problems for their offspring. One mother recounted her child’s cries at 3 AM due to a 20-degree room temperature, highlighting the constant struggle to keep children cool with “endless litres of water” and fans.
While the challenge is widespread, some housing associations are actively recognizing the gravity of overheating homes. Alistair Smyth of the National Housing Federation indicates a growing commitment among these bodies to develop strategic climate adaptation plans, aiming to mitigate the risks posed by increasingly hot summers and safeguard child health.
The Resolution Foundation, dedicated to improving living standards, is urgently pressing the government to intervene. Their call centers on ensuring that the costs associated with remediating these hot homes are made genuinely affordable, emphasizing the need for greener, insulated homes that simultaneously prevent summer overheating. This underlines the critical need for robust government action.
Experts point to fundamental design flaws in many UK homes, originally built for temperate climates, which fail to function adequately during heatwaves. Features such as single-aspect homes and extensive floor-to-ceiling glazing exacerbate the problem by impeding airflow. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health further stresses the multifaceted impact on child health, urging collaboration between national and local governments and the housing sector to adapt housing stock against heat stress, cold, and damp.
In a proactive move, a community interest company, in partnership with the London School of Economics, advocates for a “heat risk certificate.” This proposed system, similar to energy performance certificates, would empower tenants and buyers with crucial information about a building’s heat vulnerability before committing, thereby addressing the long-term housing crisis from an informed perspective.
A government spokesperson acknowledged the issue, stating an investment of £13.2 billion is underway to enhance the energy efficiency of up to five million homes, aiming to better cope with higher temperatures. Furthermore, actions are being taken to strengthen climate resilience across government and local communities, ensuring homes are deemed “fit for the future” and resilient against climate change impacts.
