How Brits Are Making Extra Money During Heatwaves

The Rise of Britain’s ‘Heatwave Economy’ and the Summer Side Hustles Making Money

Britain’s heatwaves are no longer just a weather event. They’re becoming a surprisingly lucrative side hustle opportunity too. 

As temperatures rise, so does demand for the kind of domestic tasks people increasingly have little interest in doing themselves: assembling BBQs, pressure-washing patios, cleaning grease-covered grills and installing portable air conditioning units before the next sleepless night arrives. 

According to new data from Airtasker, the services marketplace connecting people with local Taskers, the UK’s so-called “heatwave economy” is quietly booming, fuelled by a mix of outdoor entertaining culture, convenience spending and a growing appetite for flexible ways to earn extra cash over summer. 

During previous UK heatwaves, the marketplace has seen a rise in tasks such as air conditioning installation by +85%, and pressure washing tasks rose +35% as households rushed to get gardens and terraces guest-ready. Pet care tasks also climbed, reflecting Britain’s inevitable migration outdoors the moment temperatures pass 25 degrees. 

But perhaps the clearest sign of the country’s evolving summer culture is the rise of the BBQ economy. 

BBQ-related tasks on Airtasker have grown almost elevenfold since 2018, with 2025 marking the platform’s biggest year on record for barbecue-related demand. And despite summer 2026 only just beginning, this year is already pacing ahead. 

For many people, that demand is becoming a genuine seasonal income stream. 

One Airtasker user recently offered £200 for someone to manage the BBQ during a garden party. Another posted £150 for a full deep-clean of their grill ahead of hosting season, while one homeowner offered £100 simply to assemble a new barbecue before the weekend. 

Pressure washing patios, assembling outdoor furniture, helping at garden parties and preparing homes for entertaining are increasingly becoming some of the summer’s most in-demand side hustle jobs, particularly during periods of hot weather when people are willing to pay for convenience. 

It reflects a broader shift in how people now approach hosting at home. The modern British summer increasingly revolves around curated outdoor spaces and effortless entertaining, with less appetite for spending entire weekends sweating through flatpack instructions or scrubbing down decking. 

Interestingly, while people are investing more in preparing their homes for socialising, they appear significantly less interested in maintaining their gardens during extreme heat. 

General gardening tasks fall by during heatwaves, while lawn mowing requests also drop, likely because prolonged heat slows grass growth altogether. The priority, it seems, is less about maintenance and more about creating a space that feels ready for guests at short notice. 

For Taskers, however, the heatwave rush can quickly add up. Completing a handful of BBQ assembly, patio cleaning or event support tasks across a sunny weekend could bring in several hundred pounds, particularly as demand intensifies during hotter spells. 

The British heatwave has always carried a certain sense of urgency. But increasingly, it’s also creating a seasonal economy built around convenience, outdoor living and the opportunity to make extra money while everyone else is chasing the sun. 

Ravish Magazine is the UK lifestyle magazine for modern inspiration across travel, food and wellbeing.