Renters in parts of the UK report being unable to cool down in flats during a sweltering heatwave, describing some conditions as “unbearable.” Accounts focus on social housing properties where residents say heat builds up indoors and ventilation is limited, leaving them struggling to sleep or spend time inside.
Some reporting draws on a recent study documenting extreme coping measures. Residents describe sleeping on balconies and in gardens, or using makeshift solutions such as taping damp sheets to windows to try to reduce indoor temperatures. The accounts highlight how differences in building design, insulation, and airflow can affect how heat is experienced by occupants.
While the outlets focus on resident experiences, they also use the study’s findings to place individual complaints in a broader context. The coverage frames the issue as one affecting renters in “heat trap” flats during unusually hot weather, raising questions about housing conditions during heatwaves rather than attributing the problem to any single factor or location.
