Pressure to improve the energy performance of UK homes is rising fast, and lenders are feeling the impact. Government schemes are expanding, demand for heat pumps is growing, and minimum standards across the rented sectors are tightening. At the same time, cases of poor-quality retrofit work continue to surface, leaving those households with damp, mould or a combination of them both. In this landscape, lenders need certainty that retrofit projects are assessed and designed properly from the start, and surveyors are central to delivering that.
Retrofit only works when it begins with a clear, detailed understanding of the building. A thorough assessment helps set realistic expectations, highlight constraints and reduce avoidable risk. This is where surveyors add direct value for lenders as core skills in construction, building pathology and moisture behaviour give them the tools to judge what a property can and cannot support.
Poor assessment sits behind many of the issues seen in past government-backed schemes. Without the right checks at the outset many dwellings won’t have a clear plan to mitigate existing issues to give a platform for future retrofit works, which could lead to significant issues in the future. For lenders, that creates long-term exposure as the condition and value of a home can be affected.
Activity is also set to increase. The Warm Homes Plan, the expansion of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and new support for electric heating mean more homeowners will be encouraged to upgrade their homes, and skilled assessment will be essential to making sure this demand does not lead to rushed or unsuitable work.
RICS’ role in supporting higher standards
RICS has taken steps to help address the national skills gap and create more consistent practice. The Residential retrofit standard now sets out clear requirements for members and regulated firms delivering retrofit services. The introduction of British Standards’ BS 40104 for retrofit assessment also gives surveyors and lenders a shared reference point for quality and method.
The professional body is also widening access to specialist training. A proposed pathway to associate membership focused on residential retrofit offers a route for new entrants and existing professionals to build the knowledge needed for accurate, reliable assessments. Combined with structured CPD, this helps ensure surveyors’ skills keep pace with changes in retrofit technology, energy systems and regulation.
These moves matter to lenders as outlining clear standards make it easier to judge the quality of advice being provided and reduce the risk of inconsistent assessments across the market.
Why joint action is needed
The workforce challenge should not be underestimated, with demand for skilled retrofit professionals is rising faster than supply. Industry groups have warned that, in the short term, the UK may even need support from overseas workers to meet targets.
Meeting long-term demand will require a coordinated effort. Surveying firms, like CSS, have evidenced the ability to bring new talent through structured training routes, including AssocRICS programmes and for example, our academy is rapidly approaching 500 successful graduates since its inception, could the same be done for retrofit professionals?
RICS can also continue to shape consistent standards and provide technical guidance. Government can help by supporting training programmes and building clear expectations into policy. Lenders also have a role, both in shaping requirements and supporting a market where quality is prioritised.
Without joint action, the risk of bottlenecks will grow. That would slow delivery, create patchy standards and weaken confidence in retrofit schemes, outcomes that lenders can ill afford.
Why good assessment underpins retrofit success
A well-executed assessment is the foundation of a successful retrofit project. It identifies risks early, aligns the design with the building’s constraints and helps avoid unintended consequences. Every home behaves differently and construction type, ventilation, occupancy patterns and heritage status are all factors influencing what can be done safely.
This provides reassurance for lenders that the asset will remain stable, resilient and aligned with long-term expectations for energy performance. As standards rise across private and social rented housing, the value of reliable assessment will only increase.
The scale of the retrofit challenge is substantial, and the market cannot meet it without a skilled, consistent and well-supported surveying function. Surveyors bring evidence, judgement and practical insight to a process that can otherwise feel fragmented. Personally, I have been working with The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to look at the challenges we face.
I believe that with stronger skills, clear standards and closer cooperation across the sector, the UK can build a retrofit market that gives lenders confidence in the quality and long-term stability of the homes they finance.
