Climate Change Risks: What Every Property Buyer Needs to Know

According to the UK government’s national assessment of flood and coastal erosion risk, 6.3 million homes and businesses in England are at risk of flooding.

In addition, figures from UK Climate Projections 2018 reveal that this number could increase to approximately 8 million properties by mid-century.

Sadly, we can see the above statistics unfolding in the real world.

In June 2025, parts of Kent experienced catastrophic flash flooding following an intense overnight thunderstorm.

Whilst Kent is not typically known as being an area of ‘significant flood risk’, this case study serves as a stark reminder of how weather patterns are changing, and climate change risks are escalating across the country.

As a purchaser, it is prudent to review the flooding section of your environmental report in detail and take precautionary steps if your property is in a flood-prone or low-lying coastal area.

It is wise to ask the seller further questions, including flooding history, damage and repairs, prevention measures, and insurance, in addition to the replies the seller has given in the Property Information Form, which is usually provided on a typical sale transaction.

Once typically associated with temperate climates, the UK is now vulnerable to multi-season, longer duration, hydrological droughts.

These droughts have likely been aggravated by rising summer temperatures in the UK, a trend attributed to the effects of climate change. Provisional Met Office statistics confirm that summer 2025 is officially the warmest summer on record for the UK.

As a result, all five of the warmest British summers on record have occurred since 2000, helping to explain the UK’s growing vulnerability to droughts. A 2023 report by Kingfisher has identified seven regions in England facing severe water stress by 2030:

• The South (expected to be the worst affected)
• The East Midlands
• The West Midlands
• London
• The East
• The South-East
• Parts of the South-West

In light of the above, it is wise to review your drainage report carefully and consider the impact of depleted public water supplies.

One method of assessing the level of risk associated with a property involves consideration of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES). T

hese regulations, applicable in England and Wales, require private landlords to ensure that their rental properties have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least “E” before letting or renewing a tenancy.

However, these regulations are set to tighten in 2026. From 2026, all new tenancies must have a minimum EPC rating of C or above. For existing tenancies, the deadline for this is expected to be 2028.

Failure to comply may result in financial penalties and restrictions on letting the property, making compliance a key consideration for property owners.

An EPC provides an assessment of a property’s energy efficiency. It includes information on a property’s energy use, typical energy costs, and steps to improve a property’s energy efficiency to help reduce costs. An EPC gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A to G and is valid for 10 years.

Household appliances and “white goods”, such as refrigerators, will also be provided with a similar energy rating using the same scale of A to G.

These energy rating labels include the product’s energy efficiency rating alongside product-specific data.

These labels are important to consider when purchasing your household appliances, as choosing an energy-efficient model not only supports environmental sustainability but can also lead to savings on energy bills over time.