Older private renters and overheating: at the crossroads of risks

By Maud Gozlan, Senior Policy Officer, Independent Age

When we talk about energy efficiency and older people, the conversation still tends to focus on cold homes. But as temperatures rise, another risk is quietly becoming just as serious, yet often far less visible.

For many older private renters in England, after the relief of warmer spring days can come the difficulty of hot ones. Homes can become stifling, airless, and, at times, unsafe. As one renter described it, living in an older property means “in the summer it is absolutely boiling and in the winter it's absolutely freezing.”

Overheating is no longer something to plan for in the future, it’s more and more a present-day issue that needs to be tackled now to improve older people’ lives, as well as their health. 

Why thermal comfort matters all year round

Thermal comfort isn’t seasonal. For older people in particular, extremes temperature on either end of the scale can have serious consequences.

Heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense in the UK, and they disproportionately affect people over 65. The majority of heat-related deaths occur in this age group. In the summer of 2022, the UK exceeded 40°C for the first time. Government data shows that in 2022, almost 3,000 more people aged 65 and over died during heatwaves than would normally be expected. Health conditions such as cardiovascular disease can make it harder for the body to cope with high temperatures.

At Independent Age, we spoke to Julie, an older renter: who told us “I've got some long-term health conditions, one of them being cardiac, so it's not good for me to be either too cold or too hot really”.

At the same time, older people often spend more time at home, which increases their exposure to indoor temperatures. Yet overheating in older people’s homes can go under the radar. People may not recognise when their home has become dangerously hot, or may simply accept it as something they have to live with.

Issues with cold homes dominate in the calls that Independent Age receive from older people in financial hardship, in part because of the immediate financial pressure from energy bills. But as summers get hotter, hot homes may become more of a financial issue. Keeping a home cool, through fans, shading, or air conditioning could become another cost that people have to manage. What was once a winter affordability issue risks increasingly becoming a year-round one.

The specific risks for older private renters

The challenges of overheating can be felt most acutely in the private rented sector. Older private renters live in homes that tend to be more likely to fail Decent Homes Standard.

Research with energy efficiency advisers and older private tenants we conducted in 2025 highlights how deeply this is tied to issues of power and insecurity. Older renters often feel they have little control over their living conditions, relying on landlords to carry out improvements.

But speaking up can feel risky. According to an Independent Age survey of older renters in England, 63 per cent said they would be worried about a rent increase if their landlord wanted to undertake work to improve the condition and energy efficiency of their homes; and 35 per cent worried that a landlord may choose to sell the property, leading to their eviction.

This creates a situation where problems such as overheating can remain hidden, leaving people to adapt as best they can, even if it means living in uncomfortable or unhealthy conditions.

John  |  participant in Independent Age research

In the summer… if we get a heatwave, it’s too hot, it’s boiling.

Our more recent evidence also shows that, when asked how easy or difficult it has been to keep their home at a comfortable temperature in the summer, 19 per cent of older private renters in England said it wasn’t easy. Yet this likely only tells part of the story. Overheating is underreported, particularly among older people, meaning the scale of the issue is easy to underestimate.

The options for the third (32 per cent) of older private renters living in poverty are limited. Staying elsewhere may not be possible. Investing in cooling solutions may not be affordable. And asking for improvements may not feel safe.

Addressing the challenges

To address overheating effectively, it needs to be part of a holistic view of housing concerns, and not a seasonal or secondary concern.

That means starting with how we assess and improve homes. Energy efficiency has often been framed through the lens of keeping heat in during winter, when homes must be able to maintain safe and comfortable temperatures all year round. This includes improving ventilation, considering shading, and ensuring that retrofit measures do not inadvertently trap heat indoors.

It also means being more proactive. Older people are less likely to report overheating, so relying on complaints will not be enough. Housing providers, local authorities and practitioners need to actively identify risks, check in with tenants, and communicate clearly about how to stay safe during hot weather.

Just as importantly, the way improvements are delivered matters. Last year, we spoke to advisers working with older people on energy efficiency improvements, and our findings highlighted how important tenant-centred approaches are. This means involving older renters in decisions about their homes, understanding their specific needs, and ensuring that any changes do not increase their financial burden.

Finally, there is a question of trust and security. If renters are worried about eviction or rent increases, they are less likely to engage with their landlord about improvements or report issues. Strengthening protections linked to those improvements and creating a sense of stability is key to making any progress.

A moment for action

Overheating is no longer a niche issue. It is a growing, predictable risk that needs to be considered alongside cold homes as part of a wider conversation about housing quality and health.

For older private renters, it highlights how inequalities in housing can directly translate into inequalities in wellbeing. The quality of homes in the private rented sector, linked to affordability and security issues, are all factors that can put older renters at higher risk of overheating. Recognising overheating as a present-day issue is key to start taking a more balanced approach to thermal comfort, and putting tenants at the centre of solutions.

A safe home should do more than provide shelter. It should protect the people living in it, whatever the weather brings.