Medium-term improvement plans: the right upgrades in the right order
A medium-term improvement plan is your home’s upgrade roadmap. It turns the assessment into a clear list of measures, ranked and sequenced, so each step makes the next one easier and safer.
What the plan is for
Very few people upgrade a whole house at once. Budgets, tenancies, planning permission and everyday life mean work usually happens in stages over several years. The danger is that each stage is decided on its own. New windows go in with no thought for ventilation. Insulation is added before a damp problem is fixed. A new heating system is sized for a house that is about to become far less draughty.
A medium-term improvement plan, often shortened to MTIP, avoids that. It looks ahead at everything that could sensibly be done to the home and sets out an order that keeps the building and the people inside it safe at every stage.
What goes into the plan
- A summary of the home, its condition and the main issues found during the assessment
- Repairs and maintenance that need doing before any upgrades
- Recommended energy measures, such as insulation, airtightness, windows, ventilation and heating
- The order of works, and which measures depend on others
- The moisture and ventilation risks linked to each measure, and how to manage them
- Notes on permissions, such as conservation areas, listed buildings and freeholder consent for flats
- Measures to avoid, or to leave until more information is available
Why order matters
A common principle is fabric first: reduce how much heat the home loses before changing how it is heated. A smaller, cheaper heating system may then be enough. Ventilation needs to be planned alongside any measure that makes the home more airtight, because trapped moisture causes condensation and mould. Repairs come before everything else. Insulating a wall that is already wet from a leaking gutter or failed pointing can lock the problem in.
Our plans explain the reasoning in plain English, so you and your builders understand why each step is where it is.
Working in stages
The plan is written so you can act on it in stages. If you can only afford one measure this year, the plan shows which one gives the best result without causing problems later. If you are about to redecorate, re-roof or replace a kitchen, it shows what could be done at the same time to save money and disruption.
Using the plan with installers
The plan is a brief you can hand to designers and installers. It helps you compare quotes on a like-for-like basis and check that what is being proposed matches what was recommended. As part of our retrofit coordination service, we can review proposals against the plan before you commit.
Where the plan comes from
Every plan is based on a retrofit assessment of your home and a check of condensation and ventilation risk. For rented homes, the plan can be focused on improving the EPC rating in a sensible order. To get an early feel for which measures might suit your property, try our free Home Upgrade Checker.
Common questions
Something else? Call 020 3815 7739 (office), 07979 145712 (mobile) or send us a message.
What does MTIP stand for?
Medium-term improvement plan. It is the standard industry name for a sequenced plan of upgrades to a home over the coming years.
Do I have to do everything in the plan?
No. The plan sets out sensible options and their order. You decide what to do and when.
Does the plan include costs?
The plan focuses on what to do and in what order. Prices depend on installers and products, so we recommend getting quotes based on the plan.
Can the plan be updated later?
Yes. If your circumstances change or new information comes to light, the plan can be reviewed.
Will the plan improve my EPC?
Many recommended measures will improve the rating, but the plan’s first job is to make the home warmer, healthier and safe to upgrade.
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.
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