# Britons taking ‘drastic action’ such as sleeping in kitchen to cope with heat

By Amanda Williams — 2026-08-05

In response to a study published by Citizens Advice which found that almost half (44 per cent) of Britons feel they lack basic control to stop their houses overheating, the Chartered Institute of Building’s Amanda Williams has outlined ways to keep houses cool.

Amanda Williams, head of environmental sustainability at the Chartered Institute of Building, said: “The recent Climate Change Committee report which said 92 per cent of homes in the UK will be subject to overheating by 2050 is alarming and something we must all take seriously. Retrofitting the nation’s existing housing stock is one challenge, but another is ensuring new homes are more climate resilient and less likely to overheat, and changes to legislation, including building regulations, may be needed to facilitate that.

“We cannot rely on mechanical cooling like fans and air conditioning alone and must look towards passive, resilient measures that reduce heat gain in the first place such as shutters and shades to ensure that solving heat resilience does not exacerbate climate change.

“Homes need to be passively cool, energy efficient, and climate resilient by design, ensuring the safety, health, comfort, and affordability for those who live in them, even under extreme heat conditions.

“To prepare your home for hot weather you can start with some really simple steps like installing internal blinds, external shutters or awnings; growing plants and trees outside which can provide shade, particularly in front of south-facing windows, checking any ventilation system in your home is operating in ‘summer mode’ if you have one, and speaking to recommended installers for advice about reducing overheating whenever you are insulating or refurbishing your home.”

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