Flights are expensive. Festival tickets are somehow worse. And if you’re trying to squeeze in a summer getaway while paying UK rent prices, chances are your bank account is already feeling the pressure.

But Britain’s latest heatwave might actually be creating an unexpected way to make extra cash.

According to new data from Airtasker, the local services marketplace, demand for summer-related jobs spikes during hot weather, with people paying for everything from BBQ setup and patio cleaning to pet sitting and garden party help, opening up easy side-hustle opportunities for anyone looking to top up their holiday fund.

During previous UK heatwaves, Airtasker saw requests for air conditioning installation jump by +85%, while pressure washing tasks climbed as households rushed to get gardens and patios looking decent before inviting people over. Pet care jobs also rose +69%, as Brits headed off on weekends away or spent longer days outside.

Then there’s the country’s BBQ obsession. BBQ-related task requests on Airtasker have grown almost elevenfold since 2018, with 2025 becoming the platform’s busiest year on record for barbecue-related jobs. And with summer 2026 only just getting started, demand is already climbing again.

Some of the live tasks currently on the platform include:

Not bad for a few hours’ work in the sunshine.

For travellers, expats and anyone trying to build up spending money quickly, the rise in heatwave tasks is becoming a useful summer side hustle. Basic DIY skills, furniture assembly, cleaning experience, hospitality work or even just being good with pets can quickly turn into paid jobs during busy weekends.

And unlike traditional summer jobs, task-based work is flexible. You can pick up jobs around your own schedule, whether that’s evenings after work, weekends, or between travel plans.

It also taps into one very British truth: the second the sun comes out, nobody wants to spend their Saturday building flatpack garden furniture or scrubbing grease off a BBQ – instead they would rather pay someone else to do it.

The trend says a lot about how summer in the UK has changed. Heatwaves now come with their own mini economy, fuelled by garden parties, last-minute hosting plans and people trying to make the most of every sunny weekend before the rain inevitably returns – and for side hustlers, that creates a surprisingly good opportunity to cash in.

A few patio cleaning jobs or BBQ assembly tasks across a hot weekend could easily cover a European city break, a festival ticket or at the very least a dangerously overpriced airport pint.