Unbearably hot flat (leaseholder) why can’t AC be allowed if health risk

[FTBregret]

Londoner, stupidly bought a new-ish build flat that is like a greenhouse (I viewed it in winter). My flat can reach up to 39°c inside and I despise this flat regret buying but can’t go back and it’s not a suitable time for me to sell. During summer I try to avoid staying at home for too long. I’m disabled live alone, regularly feel unwell, have previously fainted, got dizzy spells, and barely sleep but my housing Clarion couldn’t care less

I keep all windows shut during the day but open them at night (single aspect windows so not much breeze). Sometimes I’ll also put fan with ice facing out the open window at night too but barely does much.

I purchased portable AC but it’s inefficient, it doesn’t cool the overall room well enough and you only feel cool if you stand right in front of it. Also I can’t keep windows open all day for safety reasons. Americans claim single hose portable acs which are commonplace in UK are inefficient compared to dual hose (can’t find dual in Uk), there’s some science behind it. Makes sense as my portable ac is no where near as good as split ac or even my friends flat (no ac) who has cross ventilation

Desperately want split ac and/or external shutters but as a leaseholder it won’t be allowed. Why is it not considered as a health safety risk to have to live in these temps as a disabled adult

I’m sure many will comment to tell me I’m being ridiculous and lacking resilience but I have relatives who live in Arizona who wouldn’t sleep in temps above 23°c… why do we have to suffer like this in a first world country

my dc lives in London.

i don’t know what your disability is do some of these may not be appropriate:

most coffee shops have aircon and an espresso is pretty cheap

ice cubes in front of a fan
ice packs in the freezer and onto clothing or skin depending
go swimming (outdoor - lots of lidos in London)
buy a paddling pool and fill it from the tap - it stays pretty cold

Have you bought the flat? Why do you have a housing provider that you assume will care enough to do something?

Do you have aircon at work? Tbh in your situation I would leave the windows closed and blinds/curtains drawn all day. Stay out during the day as much as possible. Then the portable aircon at night. It’s not ideal but better than nothing. At least in the UK we don’t hit crazy temperatures very many nights in the year. You can also look up tips like putting a cold towel around your neck if youre sitting at home during the day. Or those flexible ice bags you can freeze and use to cool down. Cool shower 3 x a day - in the last heatwave I showered in the morning, as soon as I got home from work and then again before bed. It’s grim though I agree! Buildings in the UK are (understandably) not built for crazy temperatures

You're right to keep the windows closed when the air temperature outside is warmer than inside, and open windows later in the day when the reverse occurs. Are you keeping your windows shaded during the daytime by closing blinds and curtains? Some people forget to do this.

Yes that confuses me. I though Clarion was a housing association

London gov uk website has a cool spaces map and I often go to the local library as it’s completely free and don’t feel guilty for sitting there for long time (I’d feel rude staying in coffee shop for more than 30 minutes after finishing food/drink haha)

I spray myself with cold tap water to keep cool at home as I also live in a flat and I have found this is the best way to stay cool in summer as well as drawing curtains when the sun is high.

Spray myself under my clothes as it takes longer for the water to evaporate and I find it really brings instant relief.

Ultimately we will all need ac. Are you sure it's a no go for you?

Putting one of those reflective car windscreen shields in the windows helps a quite a lot. If the window opens inwards (or you're ground floor) try and get a covering on the outside of the glass.

In the last heatwave I got one of those metallic survival blanket things they give Marathon runners and trapped it in the closed window on the outside of the glass (silver side outwards). It cooled the window by ten degrees c so try that if you can (I held it there with copious sellotape so I could open and shut the window without dislodging it but you might have higher standards than me 🙂)

When I have a headache I put a 'cool and soothe' pad on my forehead.
It's really cold.

Please try some. They aren't expensive and might give you a bit of respite.
Good luck.
X

My flat is boiling too, and the portable air con doesn’t fully work as the room is too large, but it would work better in a smaller room. Thankfully I am moving up north and buying a house, I did nearly buy a flat but glad I didn’t and the heat in my flat is one of many reasons I am glad I didn’t. Going to stay with adult son this week as dog wont cope in those temps in my flat. Still 30 degrees with air con on 24-7 and its £50 a week. Be far worse without it though.

Yes I regrettably bought it, I’m just having a moan

I don’t expect them to pay for things like split ac or shutters but why do they have to block me from choosing to get them. If heatwaves continue to get worse in London some vulnerable people will die sleeping in these temps

Previously I had issues with heating and Clarion classed it as emergency repair to be without it in the winter. Weather wasn’t even that extreme/cold (I think it was around 6° or something) and I found it 10x easier to cope yet thats classed as emergency and they offer free temporary heaters

@FTBregretWhat do other flat owners in the building do, as the restrictions in the lease must affect everyone?

We don’t have ac at work buts thankfully it’s much cooler than my oven flat. It shows how decent building architecture makes a huge difference

Thanks, I do already keep windows closed and curtains drawn all day throughout summer. Even when I do open windows at night it reduces temp but not by a huge amount (perhaps because lack of cross ventilation)

Why buy a flat without looking at the lease?

I didn’t expect the flat to get so hot during summer and didn’t realise I’d need split AC before buying

I already mentioned I regret buying and comments like this aren’t very helpful now. Humans make mistakes

Sorry only asking because I dont understand, why if you own can someone else get to decide what you do in your purchased property?

I’m dreading work this week as I’m on the top floor of a building with no aircon 🥵

Would you be allowed to install such an AC https://www.coolyoudirect.co.uk/air-conditioning-installation-costs/ ? They are completely inside but expensive.

@FTBregretlike I suggested, suss out what others in the building are doing, you’re all in the same boat. And we had high temperatures back at the end of May - what did you do then? I sympathise as I hate the heat but tbh there are only a very small number of nights a year that it’s crazy high temperatures. Does your workplace have aircon? If so, at least the day time is sorted. Temperatures won’t be so high by next weekend according to the forecast. My workplace doesn’t have aircon sadly and the building is hotter than my house

I assume that the HA,Clarion, is the freeholder for the building and there is a requirement under the lease that the OP needs their permission as leaseholder if they need to install an outside unit.

Wet a sheet in cold water, place in freezer, take off all clothes and wrap cold sheet round you.You might need to have two sheets on the go in rotation as it won’t stay cold for long.
Get a bowl like a washing up bowl and fill with cold water and place feet in.
Get a neck fan, I have one and it helps.
Turn off television and all lights that will generate more heat.Absolutely no cooking with the oven on.Avoid drinking coffee and drink plenty of water.
Go to as many air conditioned places as you can.

What portable A/C did you buy. There is no reason that a normal decent portable A/C wouldn’t work.

Window films to reduce heat at pretty effective, you can get reflective but they are more noticeable and your freeholder might not like that, so choose a non reflective heat/solar reducing film. They a little fiddly to put up yourself as they have a clear backing plastic which is almost impossible to see and remove, it's the very thin film you want on your window not the thicker film attached. You put them up with water and a squeegee.
We also got an insulated blind which goes down during the day and seems more effective than the curtain. You can get heat reducing ones.
You probably need a more powerful air-conditioner, with pipe out the window and a kit that goes around the pipe to stop hot air coming in.
Unfortunately you'll probably find that the flats around you are warm too and insulating you and also a heat radiating over night from your outside wall. I don't know any solution for that we have that problem too.
I'm really sorry you find yourself in this position, it's very difficult to live somewhere hot.

Some really good practical advice! Thanks

How good are your fan/s? I used to feel like my fans did almost nothing before I bought a couple of big and powerful ones- https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08PDDSDHY?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

I can't tell you how much relief these new fans have bought me. They are a strong cold breeze regardless of the temperature. If I take a shower and sit in front of this I am actually cold and need to turn it down.