Heatwave: One in two French people now consider the heat to be the main risk to their home

When surveyed in the spring of 2026, even before the recent heatwaves, 51% of French people already considered heat to be the main climate risk for their homes. Homes now appear as particularly vulnerable spaces in the face of extreme weather events.

A study conducted in April-May 2026 with 13.000 people in 8 European countries, including France.

Heatwaves reveal a transformation that has already begun

• 57% of French people report being exposed to several climate risks.
• 51% of them (compared to 40% of Europeans) cite heat as the climate risk to which their home is most exposed, ahead of wind (storms, gusts, tornadoes) at 38% and cold (cold waves, snow, frost) at 28%.
• France is the country where the fear of the impact of heatwaves on housing is highest, ahead of Spain (49%) and Portugal (45%). Conversely, the United Kingdom is an exception: Britons are half as likely to cite heat (27%) as their main risk, and it is the only country where cold weather is the top concern (38%).

Heat, a new indicator of housing vulnerability

Vulnerability to heat also depends on the characteristics of the dwelling. Residents of multi-family dwellings (53% in Europe), apartments (44%), and older dwellings (43%) are those who most strongly identify heat as a risk to their homes.

Housing that is still insufficiently prepared for climate risks

• More than two out of three Europeans (68%) believe their homes are adequately equipped to cope with climate risks. Yet, only 16% say they are "completely" satisfied, a sign of fragile confidence.
• Spain and the United Kingdom consider themselves the best prepared (73%), while France (63%) and Portugal (62%) bring up the rear.
• In France, only 14% say they are "completely" satisfied with the equipment in their homes to cope with climate risks.
• The paradox is striking: the French, who are the most likely to perceive themselves as exposed to heat and drought, are also among the least convinced of their home's ability to withstand these risks.

One of the key findings of the Domofinance Housing Observatory is that this growing awareness of housing's vulnerability to heat predates the heatwaves of early summer 2026. The intense heat is not simply a cause for concern; it reveals a profound shift in the way the French relate to their homes. Long designed to protect against the cold, housing must now be designed to withstand heat. The Observatory's results thus demonstrate that adapting housing now goes beyond mere meteorological considerations: it is becoming a major factor in building resilience to climate change.

This data comes from the Domofinance Housing Observatory, the full results of which will be published in September.

Methodology

Toluna Harris Interactive study conducted in April-May 2026 with 13.000 people in 8 European countries, including France.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.