Rightmove says UK home searches with air‑conditioning double amid heatwave

Britons are hunting for cooler houses faster than ever. In the week of the United Kingdom’s fifth heatwave, in which temperatures in parts of England hit 38C, Rightmove reported that searches for homes with air‑conditioning more than doubled compared with the same period last year. The surge arrives at a moment when climate‑driven discomfort is reshaping what buyers value most, putting “stay‑cool” on a parity with school districts and transport links.

Rightmove’s data show a 104 % jump in summer‑time queries for properties featuring air‑conditioning. A parallel consumer survey found 61 % of respondents would consider installing a system, yet only 12 % have already done so. Even higher, 87 % said a home’s ability to stay cool weighs heavily in their next‑home decision.

Media additions

“While location, space and affordability remain key priorities, our research suggests that people are paying closer attention to how comfortable a home will be during hotter weather.”

Colleen Babcock, property expert, Rightmove, via The Guardian

Industry observers say the trend reflects a broader shift. James Waight, head of sales at John D Wood & Co, told The Guardian that a home “that could stay cool in summer while also retaining heat in winter was “no longer simply a nice-to-have but an important factor in the decision to buy a property””.

Why the heat matters now

The UK’s climate‑change watchdog warned in May that by 2050, 92 % of existing homes could overheat, with passive measures such as curtains and open windows unlikely to suffice. The same report flagged a looming need for active cooling solutions, a projection echoed by the commercial sector. In the United States and Japan, more than nine‑tenths of households already own an air‑conditioner, whereas less than a quarter of European dwellings have one. The UK sits far behind, with just 5 % of homes fitted, according to a recent industry overview.

Yet the market is moving. An estimate published alongside Rightmove’s findings puts the number of UK homes with air‑conditioning at 4 million – double the figure three years earlier. The rise coincides with the increase in remote working, which has turned living rooms into de‑facto offices where temperature comfort matters all day.

Chinese factories feel the heat

Europe’s new appetite for cooling is spilling over to the supply side. Yahoo! Singapore reports that around 80 % of the world’s air‑conditioning units are manufactured in China. A visit to the Haier plant in Qingdao revealed that output could hit record levels this year, with last year’s production of 5 million units rising to an expected 1.5 million shipped to Europe in 2025 alone.

“If the extreme heat is causing deaths, then air‑conditioning becomes a necessity,” a senior official at Haier told ITV News, adding that the latest generation of units is increasingly energy‑efficient. The comment reflects a growing tension: environmental groups caution that widespread adoption could add roughly 4 % to global greenhouse‑gas emissions, while consumers point to health and safety concerns during prolonged heatwaves.

Portable air‑conditioners dominate UK installations because planning regulations restrict external wall units. The same article notes that viral memes on Chinese social media mock Europeans fighting over fans and portable devices in supermarkets, underscoring how novelty has turned into necessity.

What the numbers say

• Searches for homes with air‑conditioning: up 104 % YoY (Rightmove, summer 2026).
• Homeowners who would consider installing AC: 61 % (Rightmove consumer survey).
• Current AC penetration in the UK: 5 % of homes (industry estimate).
• AC‑equipped UK homes: 4 million (double three years ago).
• Global AC production: about 80 % from China (Haier, 2025‑2026 data).
• Homes with AC in China: 65 % (regional data).

Implications for the property market

Estate agents are already adjusting listings. Several agencies now feature cooling capacity as a searchable amenity, and new‑build developers are incorporating heat‑pump systems capable of both heating and cooling. The shift could also affect pricing; properties that can promise a comfortable indoor climate during increasingly frequent heatwaves may command premiums, while older, poorly insulated homes could see demand wane.

Energy‑efficiency certifications are likely to gain prominence. Homebuyers, aware of the carbon footprint of traditional split‑systems, are starting to ask whether a property’s cooling solution aligns with sustainability goals. In the United Kingdom, the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) framework may soon need to account for cooling efficiency, echoing calls from environmental NGOs for stricter standards.

What to watch next

Event	Date	Potential impact
Met Office issues updated heatwave forecast	Mid‑August 2026	Further spikes in search activity and possible surge in AC sales.
Government review of EPC criteria for cooling	Q4 2026	May introduce new rating metrics for air‑conditioning efficiency.
Haier announces next‑gen energy‑efficient models	Late 2026	Could soften environmental criticism and accelerate UK imports.
Major UK estate agents add “cooling” as a key filter	September 2026	Will make cooling a standard part of property searches.

As the summer drags on, the convergence of climate pressure, consumer comfort, and supply‑chain dynamics is set to reshape the UK housing market. For buyers, the next step may be to ask not just “how much space?” but “how cool will it stay when the mercury climbs”. For sellers and developers, the answer could determine whether a property trades at a premium or fades into the background of a warming market.