As climate change increases the prevalence of extreme weather events in the UK, household repair costs are estimated to increase alongside this.
That’s according to a new report by Protrade, a UK-based provider of power tools and associated products, which revealed the impact of climate change on construction and trade industries.
Tradespeople such as electricians, roofers, and builders should expect to see increased revenue, with annual property repair work across the UK’s 20 most populous cities estimated to reach over £144 million by 2040.
As extreme weather becomes increasingly common, climate-related risks are no longer a distant threat; they’re a growing reality for homeowners and the tradespeople who maintain their properties.
To explore the scale of this impact, Protrade analysed climate projections, housing data, and repair cost estimates across the country.
Drawing on UKCP18 data from the Met Office, Protrade calculated future levels of flood exposure and heatwave vulnerability by city. They then applied average repair costs for common climate-related damage – including subsidence, HVAC stress, damp, drainage, and structural fixes – to estimate the potential annual repair bill, as well as to identify which areas of property maintenance are likely to see the biggest rise in demand.
On these findings, Des Duddy, Joint Managing Director at Protrade, comments, “With projected repair costs across the 20 largest UK cities exceeding £144 million annually, this highlights the growing financial strain climate change could place on the housing sector if adaptive measures aren’t taken.
“As temperatures rise and extreme rainfall becomes more frequent, demand for both structural and surface-level repair is likely to surge – particularly in major urban centres like London and Birmingham.”
Electrical and fire-related repair costs are estimated to reach £3,000 per household by 2040
The estimated costs for household repairs by 2040 show:
• Subsidence repairs rank first at £15,000 per household
• HVAC installation and upgrade costs are projected to reach £3,500, placing them second
• Electrical and fire-related damage repairs are estimated to cost £3,000 per household
• Roof and material repairs are expected to require £2,500
• And, finally, pipework and internal cracking repairs are projected to cost £1,800 per household
As outlined above, subsidence repairs are set to become the most expensive heat-related repair, with average costs reaching £15,000 per property.
As temperatures continue to rise, more homes will also require HVAC installations/upgrades (costing £3,500) to keep indoor conditions safe during extreme heat.
Heatwaves will lead to roof and material degradation, with typical repair costs of around £2,500 and an increased demand for plasterers and tilers.
On top of this, pipework and internal cracking, averaging £1,800 per incident, will increase with more frequent heatwaves caused by the expansion and contraction of materials in fluctuating heat.
Des continues, “As climate change progresses, we’re expecting a significant rise in demand for certain types of repair work by 2040.
“Subsidence repairs are likely to become more common as prolonged dry spells cause clay soils to shrink, threatening the structural stability of buildings.
“Add to that the projected increase in roof degradation, cracked materials, and internal damage from heat expansion, it’s clear the workload for tradespeople is set to grow massively over the next 15 years.”