Zurich UK warns of a growing trend of commercial buildings being converted to residential homes, many of which are not suitably equipped to deal with an increasing climate risk. Conversions are growing in their frequency due to changing planning laws and the UK Government’s ambition to add 1.5 million new homes in the not-too-distant future.
This warning comes as the UK and Europe witness unprecedented high temperatures, while both 2022 and 2023 are recorded as the hottest years on record. According to the Met Office’s State of the UK Climate report, all the 10 warmest years since 1884 have occurred since 2002, underscoring the urgent need to address climate resilience in housing.
Rising Popularity of Commercial-to-Residential Conversions
The fact that the relaxation of planning rules last March has indeed made it easier to convert offices, banks, restaurants, and shops into residential units. Government figures also show that the applications to turn those buildings into homes have rocketed, surging 20% from 1,025 in 2022 to 1,235 in 2023. This is also on top of a similar rise-20%-from 2020 to 2021, which had been largely driven by the pandemic that left many office spaces vacant as businesses shifted to remote working.
Conversion of redundant commercial spaces into homes is quite a practical solution to cater to these demands. The UK Government has an ambitious target of building 1.5 million new homes within the coming few years, in which the concept of reusing commercial buildings plays an important role. However, with this coming at a solution to help improve the shortage in housing, there are growing concerns about the quality of such conversions when considering the prospect of climate conditions later on.
Impact of Climate Change on House Conversions
Perhaps one of the most crucial impacts of climate change, which truly touches every corner of the globe, is how it’s increasing the vulnerability of dwellings. Those buildings that have low adaptability to extreme heat and other risks associated with climate change may pose serious health risks to the occupants. This is all the more so in regard to a commercial-to-residential conversion, where many are not originally designed for residential purposes.
Zurich UK has warned that most of these converted homes lack some vitally important features: proper ventilation, cooling systems, and external shading. Without these, homes are more vulnerable to heatwaves, which are expected to increase in both frequency and intensity in the coming decades. The urban heat island effect-where urban areas have higher temperatures than their rural counterparts-can exacerbate these problems, especially in densely populated cities where most commercial conversions are taking place.
Equally, heat-related deaths are on the rise. The independent advisory body, the Climate Change Committee, estimated that such heat-related deaths could rise by as much as 250% in the UK by the 2050s. This projects the urgent need to ensure new and converted homes can cope with higher temperatures and other climate impacts.
Additional Risks and Challenges in Conversions
Aside from the heat-related hazards, there are also other issues related to the structural and functional safety of some commercial-to-residential conversions. Zurich UK reports a sharp rise in escape-of-water claims related to the conversion. Most commercial buildings were not designed to bear multiple kitchens and bathrooms; hence, plumbing systems in such conversions are often insufficient or of low quality, which may result in water leakage and further costs for both homeowners and insurers.
In fact, a study conducted by the University College London reported that such conversions disproportionately affect the most susceptible populations. Low-income people and families are much more liable to be living in these kinds of converted homes, usually in poor conditions. In this case, such low-quality conversions risk widening inequality further, since residents may be compelled to stay in homes that don’t protect against very high or low temperatures, among other climatic risks. Further research from UCL explains how the poor conversions could impact residents’ general quality of life.
UK Homes Overheating Risks
Overheating in UK homes isn’t just related to commercial conversions. A recent report by the Grantham Research Institute at the London School of Economics estimated that 50% of all UK homes are currently at risk of overheating-a figure rising to 90% under a scenario of 2°C global warming. New homes these days are being designed with climate resilience principles, but many buildings currently stand unsupported, mostly the more aged and energy-inefficient structures, against rising risks driven by escalating temperatures.
Indeed, cooling systems and better insulation have been installed in newly constructed houses to prevent overheating. However, conversion of older commercial buildings into residential apartments becomes quite difficult as their structures are pretty rigid to adapt to the necessary upgrade needed for residents.
The Way Forward
With the continuing need for more housing and the UK Government’s ambition to add 1.5 million new homes, it is certain that commercial-to-residential conversions will feature strongly in meeting this target. But the warnings from Zurich UK highlight how imperative it is that those conversions are done properly, focusing on climate resilience and long-term health and safety for residents.
Similarly, building regulations and building standards need to be revised so that the converted houses are equipped with the potential ability to bear the future climate risks since the rising temperature will lead to increased frequency of heatwaves. If these protections aren’t implemented, improperly done conversions will carry major health and financial burdens for residents and insurers alike.
With the UK continuing to battle the consequences of climate change, housing solutions must focus on sustainability and resiliency. Solutions might include converting old commercial buildings into homes; clearly, such conversions need to be made with safety, comfort, and well-being in mind for future residents.
Source: Zurich UK Press Release