Do you need AC in London?

In most real estate markets in the world, air conditioning is a standard feature when looking for a home. In London, it is a luxury. When it comes to AC in London, you’ll hear many agents say “London is only hot two weeks a year, it really isn’t needed”. While this may have been true many years ago, it certainly isn’t the case now. Due to global warming, the whole world is becoming hotter by the year. New record temperatures are constantly being set, and there are no signs that this is slowing down. This is why I always advise my clients on the importance of air conditioning, although it isn’t always possible depending on the search. 

Almost every summer, there are new headlines that London has experienced the hottest temperature on record. During heatwaves, temperatures have reached as high as 37 degrees. Last August, temperatures reaching 34 degrees were recorded around the UK for 6 consecutive days. According to carbonbrief.org, “34C has been recorded in the UK during seven out of the last 10 years, compared to seven out of the previous 50 years from 1961 to 2010. This suggests that temperatures of 34C or higher occurring at some point during the summer are becoming a more common occurrence.” There are predictions that London will have a similar climate to Barcelona by 2050. Many houses and apartments are already at a stage where they overheat in summer, so this will only get worse. 

When reading these figures, you might find it strange why air conditioning is a rarity in London. London is a historic city with many buildings from the 1800s which have been listed. According to historicengland.co.uk, “a building is listed when it is of a special architectural or historic interest considered to be of national importance worth protecting.” Air conditioning requires an outside unit to be placed, which requires permission from the local council and freeholder (if applicable). This can be tricky to get, especially if the property is listed or sits within a conservation area. If you are a leaseholder of a flat, you will also need to get permission from the freeholder of the building. Should it get approved, this whole process can take months to complete. It’s not impossible to put in air conditioning in an older or listed building, however it is challenging. Air conditioning or comfort cooling is fairly common in new buildings, however new buildings in the prime parts of London are quite hard to find and are usually a very premium product. 

During every consultation, I brief prospective clients on the importance of air conditioning in London as it is sometimes overlooked. I stress on the importance of air conditioning not as a luxury, but an important priority. Naturally, if the client is looking for a period building with charm, it might not always be possible. If AC is a must for the client in this case, I usually search for top floors or ground/lower floors usually have a higher chance to have AC or the ability to put in AC due to access to outside space to house the unit. I also advise on the importance of air conditioning depending on the flat. For example, is it on the last floor, where all the heat from the rest of the building rises? Does it have cross ventilation?  I believe homes with air conditioning will be much easier to sell in future years as the world continues to heat up. If working from home will continue, this will just speed up AC becoming a must for all homes. According to a NASA study, productivity falls by 3.6% for every degree over 22C. 

In summary, air conditioning shouldn’t be treated as a luxury, but a priority when searching for a home. London, along with the whole world, is only getting hotter. It’s important to keep in mind that if you are not looking for a new build, air conditioning is very hard to come by. I always advise my clients on the importance of air conditioning both for comfort and to make it a more sellable asset in the future.