Wealthy London Residents Realize Money Can’t Buy Relief from Rising Temperatures

As London residents grapple with rising temperatures, many wealthy individuals in the city are finding that affluence doesn’t always equate to comfort.

With certain sections of the London Underground recently hitting temperatures unsuitable for livestock, it’s clear that climate change is affecting life in the UK’s capital. This has resulted in a noticeable increase in the demand for air conditioning units in high-end homes.

Historically, air conditioning was infrequently requested, according to Richard Gill, director at the London-based architecture firm Paul Archer Design. Nowadays, about 30% of his clients—mainly affluent professionals such as lawyers and financiers—are looking for AC installations. However, not every request gets the green light.

Hearing “no” can be tough for those accustomed to luxurious climate-controlled settings, exotic vacations, and comfortable vehicles, Gill noted in a recent interview.

For the residents of London, the obstacles to installing air conditioning vary. Older buildings often face technical or aesthetic limitations, and sometimes local councils dismiss claims of severe overheating. Gill recalls a client with a 1920s home in Highgate, north London, who sought permission for air conditioning in 2022, the first year the UK experienced temperatures surpassing 40C (104F). The council turned down the request, concluding that the house was not in danger of overheating.

The client “would beg to differ,” said Gill. “Many of my clients mention, ‘I understand, Richard, it’s a first-world problem, but my children can’t sleep and I work long hours.’”

Gary Woodward, managing director of Airconco in north London, points out that although certain areas of London are becoming “extremely hot” in summer, regulatory constraints complicate or postpone installations in 30% to 40% of homes.

In Camden, an affluent north-London borough that includes Hampstead, Primrose Hill, and Belsize Park, a family was denied permission for two air conditioning units earlier this year due to noise and “visual clutter” concerns, as per documents reviewed by Bloomberg. Their application featured images of a thermometer showing nighttime temperatures exceeding 25C in the home’s south-facing bedrooms.

The family dealt with a “significant issue of overheating within a property that is difficult to cool to safe temperatures,” as stated in a report from their planning consultant. “The key concern of this application is not comfort, but safety for the children of the applicants.”

Claire Coutinho, the Conservative shadow energy secretary who oversaw the UK’s energy policy until 2024, has openly condemned the current regulations, cautioning that access to air conditioning is hampered by “bureaucrats in ivory towers.”

In another case, Kensington and Chelsea council rejected an application for a rooftop unit last year after neighbors raised concerns regarding its visibility, as documented by Bloomberg.

City officials have not published comprehensive data on air conditioning requests in London. A spokesperson for Camden Council noted that air conditioning applications are reviewed against the borough’s development plan, taking into account policies related to sustainability, design, and noise regulation. A representative from Kensington and Chelsea Council mentioned that their area has stricter regulations due to three-quarters being of special architectural or historical significance.

These scenarios highlight that climate change does not discriminate by socioeconomic status, emphasizing Britain’s well-known class divide. The UK, which has faced ongoing sewage problems in its rivers due to poorly managed water utilities, now contends with rising temperatures affecting all its residents.

This summer is anticipated to be among the hottest on record, according to the UK’s Met Office. Temperatures throughout June, July, and August have been “consistently above average,” explains Emily Carlisle, a scientist at the Met Office, linking the warm conditions to dry soil and elevated ocean temperatures.

Although there is limited information on air conditioning, a 2022 government estimate indicated that fewer than 5% of British households have air conditioning. Meanwhile, 55% of UK homes have bedrooms that overheat, as shown in an analysis by Arup, a consultancy done that same year.

Arup, which conducted the research for the UK’s Climate Change Committee, found that overheating was even more common in London. Smaller bedrooms, loft rooms, and apartments are particularly vulnerable, it reported. A separate study released in June highlighted that indoor overheating in UK homes increased from 20% in 2011 to 82% in 2022.

This trend is seen across Europe, where the demand for air conditioning keeps rising. “We have been used to a heating mindset,” states Simon Pezzutto, a senior researcher at the Eurac research center. “However, with climate change, we need to transition to a cooling mindset — and most northern European cities are not prepared for that.”

The United Nations predicts that the world is on course for more than 3C of warming. After reaching 2C, roughly one in five British homes may need air conditioning to maintain suitable temperatures, according to the Arup analysis. The remaining homes might manage with ceiling fans, reflective paint, and shutters, the report indicates.

Andy Love, founder of Shade the UK, a community interest group that collaborates with government and authorities to mitigate overheating risks in buildings, stresses that while air conditioning can protect individuals during extreme heat, homeowners should first consider alternative options. Strategies like external shutters, which are rarely used in UK homes, are effective and more cost-efficient to install and maintain, he noted.

“If we hurry into becoming an air conditioning-dependent society, it could be counterproductive,” Love commented.

Regardless of the solution, the risks of sweltering buildings are significant. Nighttime overheating interrupts sleep, leading to long-term health concerns such as weakened immune systems and elevated risks of heart disease. An inability to cool down at night also diminishes the body’s resilience to prolonged heat exposure, increasing the chances of dehydration and heat-related stress.

Some restrictions on air conditioning installations in the UK are gradually being relaxed. This year, for instance, the government included air-to-air heat pumps—air conditioning units that function for both heating and cooling—on the list of building works that can proceed without needing permission. Additionally, the government is considering adding air-to-air systems to a subsidy program focused on making heat pumps more accessible, aiding Britain’s net-zero goals.

Nonetheless, restrictions remain. Apartments and buildings deemed to have conservation or aesthetic value—often luxurious residences belonging to wealthy individuals—still require special approval.

“Those regulations were created for a cooler climate accompanied by a less clean energy grid,” asserts Sam Richards, a former government advisor and CEO of Britain Remade, a campaigning organization. “Neither of those conditions are present today.”

© 2025 Bloomberg

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