More than 100,000 homes could become “uninhabitable” in high temperatures as a surge in office conversions has created greenhouse flats, a major insurer has said.
More than 100,000 100,000 homes could become “uninhabitable” in high temperatures following increased office-to-residential conversion, a major insurer has warned.
Zurich UK’s analysis of government planning data found that over the past decade, 103,4211 former commercial buildings have been converted into homes, but many are poorly equipped for rising temperatures.
It found there has been a 58% increase in applications for commercial to residential conversions in just three years, as companies outsource office space.
As demand for housing increases, the UK is facing a growing problem of converted homes that have not been built sustainably for these fluctuating temperatures.
Already this year, the UK has recorded its hottest May since 1922 with record high temperatures and the hottest June day on record yesterday, likely to be surpassed today.
Zurich warns that many commercial-to-residential conversions are at risk of overheating because office buildings were not designed for 24/7 occupancy.
Some have weak pipes and services, especially where they have had to be installed repeatedly during the conversion.
Poor ventilation can also be a problem, with closed windows and limited ventilation that can trap heat in the house.
Some have large glass facades that increase heat, lack of ventilation and old buildings that may be made of outdated materials.
Worse, there is a regulatory gap as conversions often fall outside new build housing standards on issues such as overheating.
Central urban areas, where offices are located, are often very hot.
London is the UK city most prone to hot weather due to poor ventilation in offices and homes leading to overheating.
A study by academics at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and Environment at LSE found the proportion of all UK homes at risk of overheating, which is thought to increase to 90% of all homes under a 2°C global warming scenario.
While building regulations now address the risk of overheating in new buildings, existing buildings are exempt – despite the UK having one of the oldest and most inefficient building stocks in Europe.
Homes that do not withstand heat waves are also a serious health hazard.
The Committee on Climate Change estimates that heat-related deaths in the UK will increase by around 250% by the 2050s.
Zurich’s head of large and complex property claims, Megan Dunford, says: “These challenges extend beyond tropical storms.
“While global weather events such as El Niño can increase temperatures in the short term, the broader trend points to longer-term and persistent warming events across the UK.
“Commercial buildings are often designed to different operating tolerances than residential buildings, and continuous temperature variations can put material stress on the building fabric.
“This increases the risk of increasing and decreasing temperature, which may contribute to cracking, shrinking and preventing the escape of water events.
Over time, this not only undermines the safety and longevity of the building, but also exposes residents to higher maintenance costs and reduced quality of life.”
