Anyone live in a new build flat?

[scorza]

So I've got the hankering to move from to a 2 bed flat, and there's some new build ones coming available in my area. Last time I lived in a flat it had been built in 2001 and I remember it was bloody sweltering in summer (I was there for the great summer of 2003!). Obviously if I do move I'd like to make sure the flat had adequate means cooling, so what sort of things do I need to be looking out for?

Part of the problem is that I'm not really sure why my old flat was so hot. My old man reckons it's lack of insulation that makes properties hot in summer, but my old flat was lovely and warm in winter so I'm not entirely convinced.

I suppose really I'm wondering if anyone lives in a new build flat, what is the temperature inside like when it's hot outside?

 

[scorza]

Why would being well insulated make it hotter in summer?

What about what alx says - makes in difficult for hot air to escape. This is what I suspect is the case, as said in the OP my old man reckons better insulation is the solution to the problem.

 

[scorza]

They're warm when it's hot but we're in England! It's mild/cold most of the time so surely you should be buying based on what it's like in colder weather...?

I've lived in cold homes and I've lived in hot homes, personally I much prefer cold homes - heating in this country is pretty good, cooling not so good. I guess the great summers of 2003 and 2005 were just so unpleasant I am scarred by the memories of them.

I live in a new build, about 8 years old now. It seems well insulated, never had the heating on due although that could be due to the number of flats rented out with the heating running all the time around us.

In the summer it can get too hot, but we have AC (costs a fortune to run), but generally just open the windows and its fine.

You have AC in the UK? Did you install it yourself or was it pre-installed by the builder?