Retrofit assessment on my property
A retrofit assessment is a detailed, whole‑house survey carried out by a qualified Retrofit Assessor to evaluate a property’s condition, energy performance, ventilation, and occupancy before installing energy‑efficiency upgrades, as required under the UK PAS 2035 standard. It identifies issues such as damp, insulation gaps, and structural defects and produces a plan for safe, effective improvements.
Preparing for your Retrofit Survey:
A qualified retrofit assessor will visit your home to complete a standard energy and condition survey. This essential first step helps us find the best ways to upgrade your home, lower your energy bills, and keep your property warm and healthy.
What does a retrofit assessor do when completing a retrofit survey at my house:
The retrofit assessor's primary goal is to determine which energy efficiency upgrades your home qualifies for.
The assessor will heavily focus on the following elements:
1. The Insulation Hunt
The assessor needs to find out how much heat your home leaks. They will check:
- The Loft: They will measure the exact thickness of your existing loft insulation. If it is below current standards, the grant will cover topping it up.
- The Walls: They will determine if you have solid walls or cavity walls, often checking the brick pattern or drilling a tiny, non-intrusive hole outside to look inside the cavity.
- The Floors: They will check whether you have suspended wooden floors or solid concrete floors to see if underfloor insulation can be fitted.
2. The Ventilation & Safety Check (The Most Critical Step)
When a home gets heavily insulated, it becomes more airtight. If air can't circulate, you get condensation and black mould. The assessor will spend a lot of time checking:
- Whether your windows have working trickle vents.
- If your kitchen and bathroom extractor fans actually pull air out or are just making noise.
- Whether existing air bricks are blocked by garden furniture or dirt.
3. Sizing Up for Low-Carbon Heating & Renewables
Funding schemes has substantial budget caps specifically for low-carbon upgrades. The assessor will evaluate your home's layout to see if it can accommodate:
- Air Source Heat Pumps: They will look at where an outdoor unit could sit, check your radiator sizes, and see if you have room for a hot water cylinder.
- Solar PV Panels: They will assess your roof's orientation (south-facing is ideal), pitch, and overall condition to see if it can hold solar panels.
All of this data is securely passed to a Retrofit Coordinator, who will design a bespoke improvement plan specifically for your house.
How to Prepare for the Visit To help the assessor complete the survey as quickly and smoothly as possible please ensure the following:
- Provide Clear Access: Make sure the assessor can easily get into all rooms, the loft space, the basement (if you have one), and any meter cupboards.
- Clear the Areas: Kindly clear any clutter away from windows, loft hatches, and your boiler/heating systems so the assessor can safely take measurements and photos.
- Have Energy Bills Ready: If possible, please have a recent copy of your gas and electricity statements or energy bills to hand.
Find out more about retrofit assessments on the Retrofit Academy website