Older adults, care home residents, and people living in poor-quality housing are facing increasing risks from extreme heat, according to new research that warns the UK is not adequately prepared to protect its most vulnerable populations. The study identifies overheating as an escalating public health challenge rather than simply a building design issue, with rising temperatures posing serious threats to health, wellbeing, and quality of care. Those least able to adapt to extreme heat—including older adults, people with chronic health conditions, and low-income households—are experiencing the greatest burden as climate change drives more frequent and intense heatwaves.
Researchers found that hospitals, care homes, and residential buildings are among the environments most vulnerable to overheating. Higher indoor temperatures can compromise patient safety, affect the delivery of care, and reduce overall wellbeing. Led by researchers at the University of East London (UEL), the study highlights how weaknesses in building regulations, inconsistent enforcement, and limited public awareness are leaving millions of people exposed to heat-related risks. The findings suggest that existing systems are failing to keep pace with the growing challenges posed by rising temperatures.
Although overheating regulations were introduced through Part O of the UK Building Regulations, the study concludes that these measures remain limited in scope and are often applied inconsistently. Existing homes and institutional settings are particularly underserved, despite housing many of the people most vulnerable to heat-related illness. Researchers also note that some modern, energy-efficient buildings may unintentionally increase overheating risks. Airtight construction and high levels of insulation can trap heat indoors during warmer months, revealing a significant gap in current housing and climate policies.
The study further found that overheating is frequently addressed too late in the building design process. As a result, opportunities to incorporate simple but effective measures—such as shading, natural ventilation, and thoughtful building orientation—are often missed. Developers are then forced to rely on costly or less effective solutions after construction has already begun. This reactive approach reduces long-term resilience and increases the likelihood that buildings will struggle to cope with future heat extremes.
Beyond the built environment, behavioural and institutional challenges are also limiting the UK’s ability to respond effectively. Public understanding of heat-related risks remains relatively low, while guidance during heatwaves is often unclear or insufficiently targeted toward vulnerable groups. The study also points to gaps in healthcare preparedness and planning, raising concerns about whether health and social care systems can adequately support populations most at risk during periods of extreme heat. Insights from a national roundtable involving experts from housing, healthcare, and the built environment revealed widespread concern that current policies and practices are falling behind the realities of a warming climate.
To address these challenges, the researchers recommend extending overheating regulations to existing homes as well as new developments, strengthening enforcement mechanisms, and integrating heat resilience into planning and design decisions from the outset. They also call for clearer public guidance, targeted support for vulnerable populations, and stronger integration of heat risk into NHS planning and services. Lead author Dr Mehri Khosravi, Senior Research Fellow at UEL’s Sustainable Research Institute, emphasised that extreme heat is already placing vulnerable people at risk and that overheating must be recognised as both a housing and public health issue. The researchers conclude that without urgent action, the UK risks creating homes, care settings, and systems that become increasingly unsafe during future heatwaves, with the greatest consequences falling on those least able to protect themselves.
More information: Fatemeh Khosravi et al, From building codes to behaviour: Strengthening extreme heat adaptation policy in the United Kingdom, Energy Research & Social Science. DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2026.104688
Journal information: Energy Research & Social Science Provided by University of East London
