UK households issued warning heatwave could cause building collapses

The UK has been plunged into its fourth summer heatwave, with temperatures racing past 30C and closing in on 35C in the south.

An unexpected side effect of the sudden heat shift is on buildings, with experts warning that rising temperatures could lead to building collapses.

Subsidence-related insurance claims totalled £153 million in the first half of 2025 as households felt the impact of the warm and sunny weather this summer.

Insurers supported nearly 9,000 households in recovering from subsidence damage during the first six months of the year, while the average payout per claim stood at £17,264, according to figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

Louise Clark, manager of general insurance policy at the ABI, said: “Climate change is significantly increasing the risk