One in seven consider moving home to manage cooling costs as Britain heats up

26 June 2026

• Two in five adults (40 per cent) say they would prefer to invest in home improvements to reduce overheating from the outset, rather than rely on cooling devices
• Three in 10 (30 per cent) are concerned about the impact of using electricity for cooling on their energy bills, while over four in 10 (44 per cent) avoid energy-intensive cooling methods
• A fifth of 18-34-year-olds are considering moving to a colder part of the country because the summers are too hot where they live

Barclays’ latest Property Insights research reveals how periods of warmer weather are prompting households across the UK to adapt how they manage heat in the home, from investing in cooling solutions to considering longer-term property decisions.

Many households are already taking practical steps to stay comfortable during hotter periods. Around one in six (17 per cent) have purchased portable air conditioning, while one in 10 (11 per cent) have installed fixed systems for use during warmer weather. More accessible solutions remain widely used, with nearly half (48 per cent) of homeowners using portable fans and a third (34 per cent) installing blackout blinds or curtains.

Alongside these immediate actions, there is a clear appetite for larger interventions. Two in five adults (40 per cent) say they would prefer to invest in home improvements to prevent overheating from the outset, rather than rely on methods to bring the temperature down. Three in 10 homeowners (31 per cent) have or are considering planting trees to provide shade and 28 per cent are improving ventilation through modifications such as skylights or vents.

Cost of cooling

Efforts to reduce temperatures at home are being weighed against concerns around cost. Three in 10 adults (30 per cent) say they worry about the impact on their energy bills when using electricity to cool their homes. As a result, more than four in 10 (44 per cent) report that they actively avoid energy-intensive cooling methods where possible. Reflecting the seasonal nature of hotter weather in the UK, nearly half (48 per cent) also feel that cooling solutions are not needed for most of the year.

For some households, these competing pressures are prompting more significant lifestyle considerations. One in seven (13 per cent) say they are considering a move to a cooler part of the country to manage ongoing costs, rising to 21 per cent among Gen Z and 25 per cent of Millennials, indicating that warmer weather may be beginning to influence longer-term housing decisions as well as day-to-day behaviour.

Jatin Patel, Head of Mortgages, Savings and Insurance at Barclays, said:

“Hotter spells are a challenge for British households, particularly as much of the nation’s housing stock isn’t designed to combat sustained periods of high temperatures.

“For homeowners, it’s no longer just a question of comfort, but also cost-management as they balance staying cool with the impact on their energy bills. For some, this means choosing to retrofit their home with more passive ventilation options, meanwhile a growing number of homeowners are considering moving altogether to make sure their home is equipped from the outset.”