The structures of superconducting Tl 2 Ba 2 CaCu 2 O 8 (T c $ 110 K) and YBa 2 Cu 4 O 8 (T c $ 70 K) were investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques in a wide temperature range. Some of the structure parameters show anomalous behaviour in the vicinity of the critical temperature. The most pronounced structural change is the shift of the apical O atoms in CuO 5 pyramids towards the CuO 2 planes, indicating charge redistribution near T c . This behaviour of the apical O atoms seems to be the common structural feature of hole-doped high-T c superconductors. Another effect of charge redistribution at T c concerns a very small decrease of in-plane CuÐO distances and/or OÐO distances in CuO 5 pyramids. Both effects represent an averaged structure response to charge (hole) redistribution upon the phase transition to the superconducting state.