Retrofit assessment: understanding your home before you change it
A retrofit assessment is a detailed look at how your home is built, how it performs and how you live in it. It is the evidence every good upgrade decision is based on.
Why the assessment comes first
Most retrofit problems start with an assumption. Someone assumes a wall has a cavity, or that a damp patch is condensation, or that a loft is dry enough to insulate. The assessment replaces assumptions with recorded facts, so the plan that follows is built on what is really there.
In a whole-house retrofit, the assessment is the foundation of the whole project. It gives the retrofit coordinator what they need to judge the risk of each possible measure and decide what order to do things in.
What we look at
During the visit we work through the home room by room and outside. Typically that covers:
- How the walls, roof and floors are built, and what insulation is already there
- The condition of the building: roofs, gutters, render, pointing, windows and doors
- Signs of damp, mould or condensation, and their likely causes
- Existing ventilation: extract fans, trickle vents, air bricks and how air moves through the home
- The heating and hot water system, controls and any renewables
- Energy performance data, which we use to build an energy model of the home
- Space, access and any constraints such as a conservation area, a listed building or a leasehold flat
How you live in the home matters
Two identical houses can behave very differently depending on who lives there. The number of people, whether clothes are dried indoors, which rooms are heated and when, and any health needs all affect moisture and comfort. We ask about these things because they change what is safe and sensible to recommend. Nothing personal goes further than the report you receive.
How to prepare for the visit
- Make sure we can get into the loft, under-stairs cupboards and any cellar
- Have recent energy bills or meter readings to hand if you can
- Find any paperwork for past work, such as insulation guarantees, window certificates or boiler service records
- Note any problems you have noticed, such as cold rooms, damp patches, draughts or mould, and when they are worst
- Tell us your goals: lower bills, a warmer home, a better EPC rating, or a mix
What happens next
The assessment feeds directly into the medium-term improvement plan. That is where your recommended measures, their priorities and their order are written down. If the visit finds damp, we look at the cause and the condensation and ventilation risks before any insulation is considered.
The assessment is carried out as part of our retrofit coordination service, led by Oluwafemi Adeoye, a Level 5 qualified Retrofit Coordinator who also trained as a Retrofit Assessor. Landlords can read how the assessment helps with EPC upgrade planning.
Assessment or EPC?
An EPC gives a rating and a short list of standard recommendations. A retrofit assessment goes much further: it records condition, moisture risk, ventilation and occupancy so the recommendations suit your home. If you only need a certificate, domestic EPCs start from £75. If you are planning real work, the assessment is the better starting point.
Common questions
Something else? Call 020 3815 7739 (office), 07979 145712 (mobile) or send us a message.
How long does a retrofit assessment take?
Most homes take a few hours on site. Larger or more complex properties can take longer. We will give you a realistic time when we discuss the property.
Do I need to be at home?
Ideally yes, or someone who knows the home well, because we ask about how the home is used and any problems you have noticed.
Is a retrofit assessment the same as an EPC?
No. It uses some of the same data, but it also records condition, moisture, ventilation and how the home is used, so the plan fits your property.
Will you drill holes or damage anything?
The assessment is non-invasive. If we think an opening-up check is needed to confirm how something is built, we will explain why and ask first.
What do I get afterwards?
The findings feed into a written improvement plan that sets out recommended measures, their priority and the safest order.
Ready to talk about retrofit?
Tell us about the property and what you want to achieve. Call 020 3815 7739 (office) or 07979 145712 (mobile) and we’ll give you a clear next step.
More ways we can help
Landlord Certificates
EPC, inventory and damp reports, with EICRs arranged through our partner qualified electricians — one pack.