Sadiq Khan unveils plan to tackle overheating in homes

Summary: The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has launched the Heat Ready London plan to address the growing risk of overheating in homes, particularly new builds and vulnerable existing properties. The initiative aims to improve home design and retrofit measures to protect Londoners as temperatures rise.

Heat Ready London plan introduced

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has announced the Heat Ready London plan, a new strategy to combat overheating in residential properties. The plan will require new-build homes to be designed with features that reduce the risk of overheating, such as shading, ventilation, and smarter architectural design.

This announcement coincides with government commitments for landlords to achieve EPC C energy efficiency targets by 2030, highlighting the increasing focus on sustainable and comfortable housing.

Over one million homes at risk

Data from the London Assembly indicates that more than one million homes across the capital are at high risk of overheating. Khan emphasised the urgency of the issue, stating that rising temperatures are already impacting Londoners’ daily lives, affecting homes, schools, hospitals, and care services.

He described Heat Ready London as the city’s first comprehensive heat plan, calling on partners across sectors to collaborate in protecting lives and enhancing the city’s resilience to climate change.

Addressing indoor overheating risks

The current London Plan already includes requirements for new homes to incorporate design elements that keep interiors cooler during hot weather, reducing reliance on energy-intensive cooling systems. The Heat Ready London plan builds on this by prioritising retrofitting of existing high-risk homes to mitigate indoor overheating, with a focus on protecting vulnerable residents in the most affected areas.

Khan highlighted that tackling overheating in existing housing stock will require coordinated efforts from government bodies, local councils, and the housing sector.

Supporting landlords with overheating challenges

Landlords will need to consider the implications of overheating risks alongside upcoming energy efficiency requirements, ensuring their properties remain safe and comfortable as climate conditions evolve.

Preparing your portfolio for the new requirements

As the risks of overheating become more prominent, landlords and agents must stay informed about design standards and retrofit opportunities to maintain property comfort and compliance. TLA membership offers access to practical guidance and compliance resources tailored to the evolving regulatory landscape.

TLA’s new property management and compliance platform, currently available in BETA testing as ORBIT™, is being developed to help landlords organise property information, manage important documents, and keep track of compliance activities. This can be particularly useful for managing retrofit projects and maintaining records related to overheating mitigation.

Members can explore resources designed to support landlords in adapting to these changes and ensuring their portfolios meet emerging standards.