Tenants in Sutton are experiencing significant discomfort due to extreme heat in their homes, with council officers acknowledging the issue and outlining a multi-faceted plan to address it. Temperatures above 24-25 degrees Celsius are considered a threshold for excess heat assessments, according to information from a recent Housing, Economy and Business Committee meeting.
During the meeting on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, Councillor Barton raised concerns about mitigating extreme heat in buildings, specifically mentioning Baleham House. Lynne Mora Blair, Director of Housing, confirmed that tenants have experienced discomfort during heatwaves. To address this, the council is implementing strategies to build trust and gather feedback, including drop-in sessions and a planned community action day.
Sensors have been installed at Baleham House to monitor internal temperatures, which have confirmed very, very warm
conditions during heatwaves. The communal heating system at Baleham was also switched off for the summer, resulting in an approximate five-degree Celsius reduction in temperature throughout the building, which is being continuously monitored.
Expert proposals will be commissioned to identify and implement effective strategies for reducing internal ambient temperatures and improving the building's overall resilience to extreme heat events. This is described as a necessarily technical piece of work
that will take time to complete. While specific building materials or design features at Baleham House contributing to heat retention have not been detailed, it is acknowledged that solar gain through windows and the central heating system contribute to excess heat during hot weather.
A community action day
is scheduled for 29 October at Baleham House, with the aim of building trust and confidence between tenants and the council regarding the mitigation efforts. Tenant feedback will be a crucial component of future planning. A detailed review of issues raised by tenants over the summer, including repair history, capital investment, building safety programmes, and anti-social behaviour, is underway. The findings from this review will be used to identify learning and improvement opportunities, with the goal of agreeing on a programme of action with residents.
In addition to these long-term strategies, tenants are receiving practical support through the free provision of cooling equipment, such as fans, air conditioning units, and cooling towels.
The council's efforts are part of a broader review of tenant-raised issues, repair history, and capital investment, aimed at identifying and articulating learning and improvement opportunities. This review is ongoing and seeks to ensure future plans are informed by tenant experiences and feedback.
For further details on the committee meeting, refer to the Public reports pack and the Agenda frontsheet.