Retrofit Journey

Step one
Understanding your starting point

Improving your home’s energy efficiency has lots of benefits, but it helps to begin by asking:

• Where am I starting from?
• What do I want to achieve?

Where am I starting from?

To choose the right improvements, you need a basic picture of your home’s structure, condition and energy use. You can find this out in three main ways:

Our energy bills can show:

• How much energy you used last year
• How much you spend annually, including heating

Looking around your home can reveal:

• Colder rooms or obvious draughts
• Damp patches
• Areas in poor condition (e.g. roof, windows)

All homes will naturally lose more heat from the roof and external walls, specifically on the external wall and ceiling junctions. It is important to insulate what you can to keep warmth inside your home. Before major work, low‑cost fixes like draught‑proofing or thermal curtains can make a difference.

Your home must be in reasonable condition before major measures can be installed — for example, solar panels need a sound roof.

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)** give a basic overview of insulation, heating efficiency and construction type. They’re required for selling, renting and some grants. EPCs do not provide a detailed report on how you may live and the energy you use, but they are helpful in gaining a basic understanding of your home and what your options to improve your home may be.

What do I want to achieve?

People upgrade their homes for different reasons: reducing bills, improving comfort, modernising heating, cutting carbon, or meeting EPC requirements (landlords must reach EPC C by 2030).

Keep your goals in mind — some measures save money, others mainly improve comfort.

Also consider future plans such as loft conversions or roof repairs. Doing work in the right order avoids disruption and prevents undoing improvements later.

Step two
Check funding and make a plan

Once you know your aims, you can start planning. If your upgrade is fully grant-funded, much of this will be handled for you.

If your upgrade is funded through a government scheme

Most government-funded work (except the Boiler Upgrade Scheme) follows PAS 2035. This means:

• A retrofit assessor surveys your home
• A retrofit coordinator oversees the project
• You’re advised which measures are suitable and covered

You may need to clear loft space, make room for scaffolding or declutter. Tell the surveyor about any personal needs such as medical equipment, mobility issues, anxiety, or work patterns.

A good contractor will explain everything clearly. If you feel pressured, seek another opinion.

If you are funding your own upgrade

Professional support is helpful. A retrofit assessor can recommend measures; a retrofit coordinator can create a full whole-house plan.

If planning it yourself, think about:

• Which measures suit your home
• The best order to install them
• Ventilation requirements
• Finding accredited installers (TrustMark; MCS for heat pumps/solar)
• Insurance cover
• Likely disruption
• Planning permission and building regulations
• Your budget

Check reviews and accreditations, and get several quotes — the cheapest isn’t always best.

Heat pump installers will carry out a heat-loss survey and advise if you need new radiators or pipework.

Decide how to pay for it

More financing options are emerging as solar and battery prices fall, but be cautious of scams or expensive loans.

Grant funding

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers **£7,500 off a heat pump. Some banks and mortgage providers offer extra discounts.

Collective purchasing

Councils in Broadland, Great Yarmouth, King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, Norwich and South Norfolk run Solar Together, a group-buying scheme for solar panels and batteries. It’s usually cheaper, but still compare quotes.

North Norfolk District Council offers a £500 discount through a partner installer.

Leasing

Some companies offer solar and battery systems with “no upfront cost”, paid monthly. Before signing, check:

• Contract length and annual payment increases
• Total cost
• Assumptions about electricity prices
• What happens if you sell your home
• What happens if the company fails
• Whether a loan would be cheaper

Low-interest loan

Some banks and mortgage providers offer 0% interest borrowing for green improvements. Broadland District Council also offers 0% loans up to £5,000 (limited availability). More options are expected from 2026.

If you’re relying on bill savings to cover repayments, check whether this is realistic year-round.

Step three
Installation and completion

Book your installation

Grant-funded installations are booked for you.

Installers should explain what to expect, but some disruption is likely. Make sure you understand:

• What preparation is needed
• How your home will be left
• Whether redecoration is required

Ask for photos of anything that will be hidden once work is complete.

Check whether the system needs regular maintenance.

If you’re getting a new heating system, make sure you understand how to use it efficiently.

Timelines should be agreed, though external work may depend on weather.

You’ll almost certainly need building regulations approval. Installers usually handle this, but confirm and keep all certificates and guarantees safe — you’ll need them if you sell your home.

For solar panels, apply for a Smart Export Guarantee tariff to get paid for exported electricity.

Enjoy your cosier home!

You may notice improvements straight away, but new systems sometimes need fine-tuning.
Monitor your energy use for the first few months to check you’re getting the expected savings. If something seems off — especially with heat pumps — contact your installer. It’s often a setup issue rather than a fault.

Remember: solar panels only generate in daylight unless you have a battery. If savings are lower than expected, try shifting some electricity use to daytime.

If you’ve switched to a heat pump, review your tariff and let your supplier know about the change.
Time-of-use tariffs may suit homes with heat pumps or batteries.

Once everything’s running smoothly, enjoy your warmer, more efficient home.