Date Published 26 June 2026
With temperatures rising across the UK, landlords are being reminded to consider how extreme heat may affect tenants and rental properties. While landlords are not generally required to provide air conditioning, they do have a responsibility to ensure their rental properties are safe, properly maintained and free from serious hazards. This includes taking reasonable steps where excessive heat, poor ventilation or defective fixtures may create a risk to tenants' health and wellbeing.
Under the HHSRS, local authorities can assess hazards within residential properties, including risks linked to excess heat, damp, mould and inadequate ventilation. Where a property cannot be properly ventilated, or where essential fixtures are defective, a landlord may be expected to investigate and take appropriate action. This does not mean every warm property will automatically be considered unsafe. However, landlords should take tenant complaints seriously, particularly where vulnerable occupiers, medical issues, young children, elderly tenants or persistent overheating are involved.
Common issues that may require landlord attention include:
• windows that are stuck, defective or cannot be safely opened;
• broken extractor fans or poor ventilation;
• damaged blinds, shutters or other fitted shading;
• structural issues affecting airflow or internal conditions;
• recurring damp or mould linked to poor ventilation;
• properties that regularly overheat and offer limited means of cooling.
If a tenant reports excessive heat, landlords should treat the matter as a genuine property-management concern rather than dismissing it as seasonal discomfort. Where health concerns are raised, the issue should be prioritised and documented carefully. Practical steps may include arranging repairs to windows or ventilation, checking extractor fans, considering blinds or shading where appropriate, allowing reasonable use of portable cooling equipment, and reviewing whether longer-term improvements are needed.
Good record keeping is also important. Landlords should keep a clear note of any complaints received, advice given, contractor visits, repairs completed and any evidence provided by the tenant. This can help demonstrate that concerns were handled responsibly and within a reasonable timeframe. The direction of travel in housing regulation is clear: landlords are expected to be proactive about health, safety and property condition. As standards continue to tighten, issues such as ventilation, damp, mould, excess cold and excess heat are likely to remain under increasing scrutiny.
At Adams Estates, we assist landlords by helping identify maintenance concerns early, coordinating repairs where required and ensuring that managed properties are handled in line with current compliance expectations. For landlords, taking a proactive approach not only helps protect tenants but also reduces the risk of complaints, enforcement action and avoidable deterioration to the property.
