Changing Wimbledon Climate

After another extremely successful Wimbledon this year, and as we are well underway with our Melbourne bookings, I wanted to pause for a moment to highlight the changing climate over the past couple of years and the impact this is having on the Wimbledon rental market.
Over recent years, temperatures during the summer here have been steadily rising, with 2025 bringing extreme heat during the tournament period, followed by 2026, which saw record-breaking temperatures from around May through to the end of the summer.

We had already identified this issue back in 2023/2024 and began purchasing mobile air-conditioning units during the winter months to keep in storage. We also started encouraging our landlords to consider installing permanent air conditioning, particularly in bedrooms.

Following the 2025 tournament, the majority of our tennis clients were specifically requesting properties with air conditioning, and these properties have remained among the most desirable on our books. The extreme temperatures experienced in 2026 highlighted the issue even further, with bedroom temperatures becoming uncomfortable, and in some cases, unbearable.

We know that many of our landlords are now on waiting lists for air-conditioning installation to ensure this is in place for Wimbledon 2027. We are currently speaking with all of our landlords to ensure that, going forward, properties have either mobile air-conditioning units in the bedrooms as a minimum, or fully installed systems, depending on the type of property.

Naturally, these additional amenities are reflected in rental prices, but if you are considering renting your property for the tennis next year, now is the time to think ahead. We would strongly encourage landlords to consider installing air conditioning or purchasing good-quality mobile units now, rather than waiting until May next year, when demand for both equipment and installation will inevitably be at its highest. As we experienced this year, high demand and limited stock can lead to significantly increased costs and availability becoming an issue.

It is also worth noting that all of our Melbourne properties have fully installed air conditioning in the bedrooms. Temperatures in Melbourne during the tennis are now not far off what we experienced in Wimbledon this year, making air conditioning an increasingly important consideration for all.

A little forward planning now can make a significant difference to both the desirability of your property and the experience you are able to offer tennis clients next summer. With Wimbledon 2027 already on the horizon, now is the ideal time to make sure your property is prepared.