Did you know that ten of the hottest years on record in the UK have been since 2002? Another scary fact is that even if we adopt all of the measures climatologists say is necessary, the planet is still going to continue to get warmer.

So how will global warming impact properties in the UK? 

Traditionally the focus of house buyers in the UK has centred around staying warm in the winter months but with climate change showing us just how much weather patterns and temperatures have changed, a new focus is predicted to be on how well a house can stay cool during these scorching summers as well as ensuring that they are safe from flood risks.

Working from home will continue to be the new normal, with many adopting a hybrid working model. Gone are the days when we could simply make the most of the air conditioners in the offices at our work places on hot, sunny days. We predict that a feature that will be in high demand for the homes are air conditioning units to help our houses cool down when the temperatures soar.

We also feel that space will be a huge factor with more people spending time at home and so spacious, open plan family rooms with bi-fold doors opening out onto an outdoor living area will become as much about cool temperatures as cool design.

Carpets may be replaced with cool tiled floors and ventilation will be important,  ensuring that homes have good airflow, as well as thermal insulation on south-facing walls especially (things such as solar glass, heat-reflecting blinds and so on).

 The gardens which will increasingly be sought after will be those which offer cool oases of living space rather than the traditional lawn and flower beds. People really valued green spaces for a bit of calm and a change of scenery whilst in lockdowns and this will continue to be a popular feature when considering properties.

Whilst in the autumn and winter months hot tubs have been really popular as a way to warm up when its really cold, gardens with swimming pools may become more desirable in the coming years.

What isn’t set to change is the fact that climate change is very real and a long-term issue which will affect every aspect of our lives. The increasing summer temperatures we are seeing are already changing the way buyers view prospective homes.

In fact the British Geological Survey has warned that millions of homes and properties could face subsidence in the coming decades as a result of climate change, 

New maps from the RGS show the growing threat of damage to properties from shrinking and swelling of the ground without action to tackle greenhouse gas emissions, with London and the South East most at risk.

It finds that the number of properties across Britain highly likely or extremely likely to be affected by “shrink-swell” could rise from 3% or nearly one million in 1990 to 6.5% or more than 2.4 million in 2030.

By 2070, almost 11%, or more than four million properties, could be highly or extremely likely to face subsidence issues.

Now is the time to pay attention to climate change as much as we can.