1,504
estimated heat-associated deaths in England
UKHSA estimates that 1,504 deaths were associated with five periods of hot weather in England in summer 2025.
UKHSA, 2025 report (opens in a new tab)Support the petition
No Liverpool family should face dangerous heat alone.
Tell Liverpool City Council and the UK Government to help low-income residents at greatest risk get suitable home cooling—and afford the electricity to use it during extreme heat.
You’ll sign on Change.org. We don’t ask for your name or contact details.
Who it is forLow-income residents at greatest risk from heat.
What it asksSuitable cooling and help with electricity.
Long-term fixHomes that stay safer in summer.
Why this matters
Hot homes put people’s health at risk.
Some homes are much harder to keep cool—especially top-floor flats, homes with windows on only one side, large unshaded windows, or windows that cannot be opened safely.
For people already struggling with bills, buying a suitable cooling unit—and paying to run it—may be out of reach.
Artwork used in the original petition.
“Care and love cannot lower the temperature of a dangerously hot room.”
The evidence
What the figures show.
The figures below come from official sources. Follow the links for the full reports.
2.9m
English households reported an uncomfortably hot home
In the 2023–24 English Housing Survey, 2.9 million households said their home became uncomfortably hot.
English Housing Survey (opens in a new tab)31,810
Liverpool households in fuel poverty
Liverpool City Council recorded 31,810 fuel-poor households in 2023—14.9% of Liverpool households, compared with 11.4% across England.
Liverpool City Council data (opens in a new tab)
Who is most at risk?
UKHSA says older people and people with existing health conditions face the greatest health risks in hot weather. Babies and children under five also need extra care.
What we are asking for
Six changes Liverpool can make.
The petition asks for cooling support now and safer homes for the future.
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Secure the funding
Set aside reliable funding to help households cope with extreme heat.
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Include cooling
Allow crisis-support funding to pay for suitable, energy-efficient cooling equipment.
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Prioritise people at risk
Give priority to low-income residents whose health, age, disability or housing puts them at greatest risk.
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Help with running costs
Help households with the extra electricity cost during heat alerts.
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Give clear safety advice
Explain how to choose and use equipment safely, including when a fan or evaporative cooler may not be enough.
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Make homes safer long-term
Improve homes with shading and safe ventilation, and make sure insulation work does not make summer overheating worse.
How support should work
Start with the person and the home.
Before supplying equipment, the scheme should look at who lives there, the building and how badly it overheats.
- Keep heat out: use blinds, curtains or external shading, and keep windows closed when it is hotter outside.
- Let cooler air in: open windows at night when it is cooler and safe to do so; use fans in line with health advice.
- Provide stronger cooling where needed: use correctly sized, safely vented equipment when shading and ventilation are not enough.
- Help people use it: set equipment up safely and cover extra electricity costs during heat alerts.
Evaporative coolers add moisture and need ventilation; they are not the same as air conditioning. Insulation work should be checked so it does not trap too much heat in summer.
Who should get help first?
Start with people at greatest risk.
Health and age
Older people; babies and children under five; pregnant people; and people with heart, lung or kidney conditions, diabetes, dementia, Parkinson’s disease or limited mobility.
People who may struggle to keep cool
People who live alone, are socially isolated, need help with daily activities, take medicines that affect temperature or hydration, or cannot keep themselves cool without help.
Homes that overheat easily
Top-floor flats; homes with windows on only one side; large unshaded windows; windows that cannot be opened safely; and homes in dense areas with little shade or green space.
Common questions
How would the scheme work?
The petition asks for help for low-income residents at greatest risk—not air conditioning for every home.
Why are fans not enough?
Fans help many people feel cooler, but they do not cool the room. In very hot conditions, or for someone at higher risk, a fan may not be enough.
Would more air conditioning worsen climate change?
Air conditioning uses electricity, so the scheme should start with shading and ventilation and provide efficient equipment where those measures are not enough.
Should landlords fix overheating instead?
Excess heat can be a housing hazard. Emergency help should not let landlords off the hook: renters may also need repairs or changes to the building.
How could Liverpool deliver this?
Liverpool could add suitable cooling equipment to the help it already offers, take referrals from health and housing teams, decide urgent applications quickly during heat alerts, and publish what a pilot achieves.
What about electricity costs?
Portable air conditioning can cost much more to run than a fan. That is why help with a suitable unit should include limited support with electricity during heat alerts.
Need help now?
We can’t provide cooling equipment or urgent medical help.
For other support, use the official services below. If someone is still unwell after 30 minutes in a cool place, or has signs of heatstroke such as confusion, a seizure or loss of consciousness, call 999.
Add your voice
Cooling is not a luxury when health is at risk.
Join the people asking Liverpool City Council and the UK Government to include safe cooling in crisis support.
Sources
Read the full reports.
Figures and links were last checked on 11 July 2026.
- UKHSA heat mortality monitoring, England 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- English Housing Survey: climate resilient homes, 2023–24 (opens in a new tab)
- Liverpool deprivation indicators (opens in a new tab)
- UKHSA guidance on people vulnerable in hot weather (opens in a new tab)
- Liverpool Crisis and Resilience Fund (opens in a new tab)
- Climate Change Committee: A Well-Adapted UK, 2026 (opens in a new tab)