Liberal Democrat MP Freddie van Mierlo pushes 'Home Cooling Bill' as record heatwaves expose UK unpreparedness.


​Liberal Democrat MP Freddie van Mierlo is pressing forward with his private members bill to help households cope with soaring temperatures, warning that the UK is dangerously unprepared for extreme summer weather.

​The push follows a historic summer in 2026. By 15th July 2026, the UK had already recorded more days above 30°C than during the entire summer of 1976. The year also marked the first time on record that temperatures reached 35°C in May, June, and July, compounded by record-high overnight lows. New polling commissioned by the Liberal Democrats highlights the widespread personal toll of the sweltering conditions: 73% of respondents reported sleeping worse, 28% purchased a fan or air conditioning unit to cope, and 26% felt unwell or faint.

​Tim Farron MP, Liberal Democrat Environment spokesperson, criticised the lack of institutional readiness:
​"This latest set of relentless heatwaves has taught us that Britain is woefully unprepared for extreme heat, and families across Britain are paying for the cost of inaction."

​Van Mierlo’s Home Cooling Bill aims to make climate adaptation more affordable by introducing key measures:
●​Zero-rating VAT on domestic cooling solutions, including air conditioning units, exterior awnings, and shutters.
​●Requiring government reporting on the potential merits of funding local authorities in England to issue home cooling grants to vulnerable residents.

​Beyond the bill itself, the Liberal Democrats are calling for a wider package of systemic reforms. This includes a new legal requirement for all newly built homes to be fitted with air conditioning or effective cooling systems, aiminng to halt the construction of properties that overheat by design and leave elderly and vulnerable residents dangerously at risk. The party is also urging the continuation of passive cooling strategies, such as extensive tree-planting in residential areas, while acknowledging that current building regulations were built for a climate that no longer reflects modern realities.

​Gideon Amos MP, Liberal Democrat Housing spokesperson, pointed to structural issues within the housing sector:
​"Air conditioning is becoming essential in UK homes, which are now amongst the smallest and hottest in Europe after previous Conservatives Governments swept away minimum space standards."

​Although the bill’s second reading was pushed back after Parliament ran out of time to hear it on 15th September, it has now been rescheduled for 15th February 2027.
​Emphasizing the need for seasonal foresight, van Mierlo remarked:
​"When the sun is shining we fix the roof but in winter when it's cool we need to be preparing for another hot summer next year and make it an even hotter summer. That's why I've tabled my home cooling bill which will make sure the government zero rates all measures to help cool your home."
​Reiterating his commitment ahead of the rescheduled parliamentary debate, van Mierlo added:
​"I’m still backing my Home Cooling Bill, which would provide a zero-rating of VAT for measures like air con, awnings and shutters, as well as requiring the government to report on providing local authority funding for those who need extra support... I've pushed it forward and I'll still keep pushing for the government to help you with the cost of keeping your home cool."

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