MORE than a third of homes across England are in danger of overheating in future as climate change worsens, shocking new research revealed today.

Flats and smaller or overcrowded houses, especially those in cities, are most vulnerable to excess heat — defined as exceeding 26°C for more than 3 per cent of occupied hours — the Resolution Foundation said.

The independent think tank, which used government data to identify at-risk homes, warned that more than half of the poorest families live in households most susceptible to rising temperatures, compared to just 18 per cent of the richest.

As well as disrupting sleep, heat can also kill those with cardiovascular or respiratory illnesses or over-75s, whose bodies can struggle to regulate temperature efficiently, it added.

The foundation’s senior economist Jonathan Marshall urged ministers to “reach net zero without unfairly burdening lower-income households and also ensure that people are protected from climate change dangers.”

A government spokesman claimed it is investing “billions in adaptation measures and a five-year plan on how we will protect our homes and businesses against climate risks.”