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Housing: Temperature

Asked by Dr Zubir AhmedLabourDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 3 July 2026UIN 13059

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of Public Health England's recommended minimum home temperatures for vulnerable people.

Answered by Mrs Sharon Hodgson

The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA’s) Adverse Weather and Health Plan (AWHP) brings together guidance and key actions for local and national partners to prepare, build, and respond to adverse weather events, including cold periods. It includes guidance for keeping homes warm in cold weather, and links to the UKHSA’s Keeping warm and well: staying safe in cold weather guidance which recommends keeping commonly used rooms at a minimum of 18 degrees.

The plan is regularly reviewed based on the latest evidence, our experience in implementing the plan, feedback from users of the plan, and the recommendations of the AWHP reports.

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