Key facts
- Searches for UK homes with air conditioning more than doubled this summer compared to last year.
- A Rightmove survey found 61% of people would consider installing air conditioning, while 87% deem a property's coolness important.
- A UK Climate Change Committee report warned that 92% of existing homes could overheat by 2050.
- An estimated 4 million UK homes now have air conditioning, double the figure from three years ago.
- Cooling system installations can cost approximately £2,500 per room.
Searches for UK homes equipped with air conditioning have more than doubled this summer, driven by a series of heatwaves that have elevated cooling as a priority for homebuyers. Property website Rightmove reported a 104% increase in such searches compared to the same period last year, coinciding with temperatures approaching 38C in parts of England.
Consumer research from Rightmove indicates a significant shift in buyer considerations, with 87% of people stating that a property's ability to remain cool during hot weather is important when selecting their next home. Furthermore, 61% of respondents expressed willingness to install air conditioning, although only 12% have already done so.
This trend aligns with projections from the UK's Climate Change Committee, which warned in May that 92% of existing homes could overheat by 2050, suggesting that passive cooling methods may become insufficient. The number of UK homes with air conditioning has doubled in the last three years to an estimated 4 million, potentially fueled by the rise in remote working and increasingly warm summers.
Specialist installers like Debonair Cooling have noted a surge in inquiries from owners of both older and newer properties, with some loft rooms reaching extreme temperatures of 50C. While air conditioning is energy-intensive and contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions, some homeowners are utilizing heat pumps for both heating and cooling, which could further drive demand for such technologies.
Property experts emphasize that while traditional factors like location and affordability remain crucial, a home's thermal comfort is emerging as a key consideration. The ability to maintain a comfortable temperature year-round is transitioning from a desirable feature to an important factor in the property buying decision.