Westminster Labour has launched a new Weather-Ready Homes Guide to help residents stay comfortable at home – whether it’s cold in winter or overheating in summer – without needing major renovations.
As temperatures become more extreme, many households are finding their homes are simply not designed to cope. In Westminster, that’s a particular issue: over 80% of residents live in flats, where options for making changes are often limited by leasehold arrangements, building design, and planning constraints.
This new guide focuses on practical steps people can take now.
The guide covers:
- Low-cost fixes like draught-proofing windows and doors
- Ways to keep homes cooler in hot weather, including shading and ventilation
- Simple upgrades such as thicker curtains and radiator reflectors
- Tips on managing heating and reducing wasted energy
- Advice for renters and leaseholders with limited options
- Information on grants and support available
Many Westminster homes struggle at both extremes – losing heat in winter and overheating in summer. At the same time, residents often face real barriers to making improvements, from leasehold restrictions to planning constraints.
This guide is about what you can do anyway.
Cllr Geoff Barraclough said:
“Too many Westminster homes aren’t built for the weather we’re now seeing — they leak heat in winter and overheat in summer. Around 80% of people in Westminster live in flats, where making changes isn’t always straightforward. This guide is about simple, practical steps people can take now to make their homes more comfortable all year round.
But we also need to fix the bigger problem. It’s still too difficult to make sensible improvements in many buildings, particularly for leaseholders. That needs to change.”
The Weather-Ready Homes Guide is part of a wider push to make homes in Westminster more resilient, more comfortable, and cheaper to run.