Property Standards In Extreme Heat Under The Renters’ Rights Act 2026

Temperatures exceeded 30°C across much of England recently, and left many asking the question: “How hot does this house get?”

For landlords and letting agents, overheating is becoming an increasingly important consideration. While the UK has traditionally focused on keeping homes warm during the winter, our changing climate means maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature throughout the year is becoming just as important.

The recent heatwave prompted questions across landlord forums, with some asking whether they were legally required to provide air conditioning or take additional measures to keep tenants cool. The simple answer is no – but that doesn’t mean overheating should be ignored.

As climate change continues to influence how we design, maintain and manage homes, thermal comfort is becoming an increasingly important part of housing quality. Looking ahead, the new Decent Homes Standard will introduce a formal requirement for rented homes to provide a reasonable degree of thermal comfort, making this an issue landlords should start thinking about now rather than later.