Too hot to handle: UK heatwave brings sleepless nights

• Over half of UK adults (52 per cent) say that their home can get unbearably hot in heatwaves
• 95 per cent of estate agents are seeing an increase in demand for homes with air conditioning
• Residents of Liverpool (37 per cent), Plymouth (37 per cent) and Southampton (36 per cent) are the most likely to sleep nude in a heatwave

With the long-awaited summer weather finally here, focusing on keeping homes cool is a priority. New research¹ by Direct Line home insurance reveals the rising demand for air conditioning, with the majority of estate agents (95 per cent) seeing an increase in buyers looking for homes with built in cooling systems.

Over four in five (88 per cent) estate agents also report a rise in homes coming to the market with built in air conditioning. They believe this feature can positively impact the sale price for a home, with over a third (36 per cent) saying air-conditioning will increase the price offered for a property.

The Met office reports that average UK temperatures are rising², so it is unsurprising that 86 per cent of estate agents expect to see demand from buyers for air-conditioning growing in the future.

There continues to be a regional divide when it comes to temperatures, with nearly two thirds³ (62 per cent) of Londoners saying their homes get unbearably hot, by contrast just two fifths (40 per cent) of Scots said they suffered from this issue.

Over half (52 per cent) of UK adults say their home can get unbearably hot and one of the big problems that higher temperatures create is difficulty sleeping, with 80 per cent of UK adults saying it causes them an issue in hot weather. Increasing temperatures encourages Brits to get creative when it comes to trying to cool themselves down, including sleeping naked (28 per cent), eating cold foods such as ice-cream (30 per cent) and sleeping without bedding (47 per cent).

Table one: Top actions taken by Brits to tackle hot weather 

Source: Direct Line Home Insurance 2024

Residents of Liverpool (37 per cent), Plymouth (37 per cent) and Southampton (36 per cent) are most likely to opt to sleep naked. By contrast just 18 per cent of people in Edinburgh sleep in the buff to avoid overheating.

Table two: Top cities where people opt to sleep naked when it's hot

Source: Direct Line Home Insurance 2024

Maria Lawrence, Product Manager for Home Insurance said: “As continental living styles are increasingly adopted in the UK, the latest trend is to install air conditioning in the home to keep cool. Being able to turn down the temperature to reduce heat stress is attractive for homeowners as it can impact physical and mental wellbeing.

“If you are considering installing air conditioning, it’s important just to notify your insurer about the works being completed and your electricity services in case additional power is needed. Alternative, cheaper and quicker steps for keeping cool include installing ceiling fans and keeping the curtains shut during the day. Whilst keeping the windows open to encourage a draft is also a good option, it’s also important to factor home security in. In particular keeping accessible windows closed at night.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1.      The research was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Direct Line Insurance with a sample of 250 UK Residential Estate Agents between 17th –22nd July 2024.

2.      Long term temperature trends https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news-and-media/media-centre/weather-and-climate-news/2024/temperature-extremes-and-records-most-affected-by-uks-changing-climate

3.      Research conducted by Opinium Research on behalf of Direct Line Insurance with a nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults between 4th – 7^th June 2024.

For further information please contact:

Direct Line Group:

Chelsey Wheeler

Deputy Head of News and Issues

Email: [email protected]

PR team:

Fleishman Hillard

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 07808 727280

Direct Line

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.

Direct Line general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Direct Line and UK Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.