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

It's 21c indoors with the windows shut. It's 25c outdoors currently and rising. If I opened the windows, the house would quickly heat to the outside temp.

If you can keep the heat out in the first place, you shouldn't open the windows.

Quite. Windows are open here until about 9.30 then closed for the rest of the day. We're trying to keep the heat out, not let it in.

Sorry jollyhockeystickss I thought the advice was to keep windows closed during the day when it’s hotter outside than in but open them when it’s cooler (early morning / night)

if only it were that simple that opening windows all day could solve my issue. I have tried this before and it didn’t work for me. Also I can’t get cross ventilation because single aspect windows (have tried placing fan strategically as advised by Gemini but also didn’t do much)

…side note interesting how it’s often the people with least helpful advice who have cheekiest tone

@Jollyhockeystickss Oh mate! The advice in heatwaves is to close windows and curtains/shutters during the day. Basic physics, letting 35 degree air in to your house is not going to help. If you walk around countries in the Med all windows are firmly closed and shuttered in the hottest part of the day.

The time to open windows is at night or very early in the morning (I got up at 4.30am today to open all our windows and doors).

I now realise why some people in the UK are getting hotter houses than they need to in heatwaves

I lost my post so couldn't quote but OP asked for details of my Ac I don't see a model number but it's this one

I am letting the outside in today as it is ‘only’ going to get up to about 30 which I don’t mind. When it get above about 32 I close them in the day. Air conditioners will probably go on tomorrow evening.

I’ve mostly skimmed this thread so someone may have mentioned this but we are looking at getting something called a monoblock or an “all in one” heat pump to act as an air conditioner in our London flat which is in a conservation area. Because it’s a conservation area the chances are we couldn’t put an external condenser for split AC in because it can be seen from the pavement but this is the alternative we’ve found apart from the water cooling AC that I saw above which I think sounds HUGELY wasteful of water (tbf if I’m that hot, I will be ok with wasting water but not if the bedroom is still 24c)

it is a wall mounted, not very pretty (but necessary) unit that looks a bit like a night storage radiator, with 2 big holes drilled in the wall like a pair of binoculars - this is still within permitted development for listed buildings AND conservation areas) and there is no external unit and it is a bit noisier (apparently) than split ac but meets regs and can be installed by a competent DIY ER.

this is the solution we are going with in SW london over the water cooling stuff and I’m flagging it as I really didn’t know it existed. One friend said it’s noisy but it can’t be noisier than portable AC and I can wear ear plugs. I can take any hot weather provided I can sleep at night.

An example

www.aircondirect.co.uk/p/1681860/electriq-12000-btu-wall-mounted-heat-pump-air-conditioner-with-smart-app

I haven’t read the replies but does your portable ac unit have a hose? If so, they need to access to the outside to be effective.

I truly feel for you, I live in a hot, humid climate and without ac I’d want to commit murders. It’s horrible.

I really hope Op is ventilating the AC unit otherwise she’s using it entirely wrong and will be heating her room further.

https://x.com/SophFigueira95/status/2069740023398670772?s=20

I don’t understand, why are gas safety checks stressful?

Because it means the heating being turned on in an already sweltering flat. SH tenants dont have a higher immunity to the heat than home owners do!

I have a single hose AC and it is keeping me beautifully cold today (also have a health condition that makes me v vulnerable to heat). It only cost around £200

Ah OK didn’t know they had to turn the heating on.

Coming on here to say I absolutely feel your pain. I live in a flat on the second floor in London and today has been absolutely horrific. I’ve got 2 fans and a portable aircon unit in my bedroom, but like you, my windows open out - they don’t lift up and I don’t have a sealing kit. So the aircon works if you are standing right in front of it but it’s not really cooling down my bedroom as a whole. Plus my flat is south facing so it captures the heat all day pretty much. I’ve got all of my blinds closed but I don’t know if it’s just making it worse 😭

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/households-in-england-with-air-conditioning-risk-having-to-rip-them-out-after-council-order/ar-AA26v1ry

If I were a flat holder in London, I would not vote Labour. They are driving these daft rules that make your home unliveable and unsellable.

Climate change is real and we need to be allowed to adapt.

Absolute fuckers. They must want Reform to get in

Yep, I would have thought the right had zero chance in London. But a hot summer with this sort of misgoverning, and people may be desperate.

I mean has anyone actually read the article? Air conditioning is not banned.

I mean if you actually read the article you will find the headline is bullshit a gross misrepresentation of the truth

Yes, if you read the article you will see that Labour central government says that they expect councils to “use common sense” which Camden and Islington don’t do. They even force people to remove it and they block others from having it.
Camden is run by Labour. Islington is run by Labour.

I see they were removed because they went against planning permission. Heres my experience...........Back in 2002 we asked our HA whether we could put up a Sky dish All we wanted was a simple yes or no. Instead they sent us a big booklet full of legal jargon. I bet the same happened here.

Camden Council are the fuckers who did this post Grenfell

They tried to force ppl to leave and a year later this article claimed leaving was voluntary

https://www.camdencitizen.co.uk/2018/07/26/council-chalcots-evacuation-criticism/

More discussion on public policy on aircon:

https://archive.ph/QD6BM