It depends on what you are trying to do — and the answer is not always yes. This guide sets out exactly when a PAS2035 Retrofit Assessment is legally required, when it may be beneficial, and when a standard EPC or Energy Performance Report will tell you everything you need to know. If you are still unsure after reading, Kieran Bradnock is happy to advise — at no charge and no obligation.
A Retrofit Assessment is a specific, formal document required under a specific set of circumstances. KIEEPC will only recommend one if it is genuinely necessary for your situation. The table below sets out the three categories — required, beneficial, and sufficient with an EPC — so you can identify where your situation fits before spending any time or money.
Kieran Bradnock carries out PAS2035 Retrofit Assessments — but he also carries out domestic and commercial EPCs. He has no financial incentive to recommend a more expensive or complex service when a simpler one will do the job. If a standard EPC or Energy Performance Report answers your question, that is what KIEEPC will recommend.
If you are not sure which category your situation falls into, the easiest thing to do is get in touch. A short conversation — free, no obligation — is usually enough to give you a clear answer.
Find your situation below. Each row shows the answer upfront — tap or click to expand the explanation and find out what to do next. If your situation isn't listed, get in touch — Kieran will give you a straight answer.
ECO4 operates under PAS2035. A Retrofit Assessment must be carried out by an accredited Retrofit Assessor before any funded improvements can be installed. Without it, works cannot legally or compliantly proceed and funding cannot be claimed.
The Warm Homes Plan requires PAS2035 compliance. A formal Retrofit Assessment is the first step — the MTIP it produces is required before the Coordinator, Designer or any installer can begin compliant work.
Most LA and HA programmes require PAS2035 compliance throughout. An accredited Retrofit Assessment is required before funded works can proceed — it forms the foundation of the entire compliance chain.
SHDF programmes operate under PAS2035. A Retrofit Assessment by an accredited assessor is a mandatory first step — without it, no compliant works can proceed under the scheme.
GBIS operates under PAS2035. A Retrofit Assessment is required before funded insulation measures can be installed — even where only a single measure is being delivered.
If a scheme requires PAS2035 compliance, a Retrofit Assessment is required — no exceptions. The assessment produces the MTIP which unlocks every subsequent step in the compliance chain.
Not legally required for privately funded works, but strongly advisable when multiple measures are involved. Insulation, ventilation and heating interact — getting the sequence wrong can cause condensation, moisture damage and poor performance. A Retrofit Assessment sets the correct order and protects your investment.
Some individual measures have significant knock-on effects — external wall insulation can reduce air permeability and create moisture risk if ventilation isn't addressed first. A Retrofit Assessment can identify these interactions before works begin rather than after.
A heat pump installed in a poorly insulated or ventilated property may not perform as expected — and may cost more to run than anticipated. While not legally required for private installations, a technical assessment of suitability before committing to the works is worth considering.
Pre-1919 and traditionally constructed properties — solid walls, lime mortars, breathable fabrics — require specialist assessment before any retrofit works. Standard approaches can cause serious and expensive fabric damage if applied incorrectly. Kieran holds a Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency for Older and Traditional Buildings.
A standard EPC will show your current rating and the measures that would improve it — including the rating those improvements would achieve. For most homeowners and landlords, this is everything they need. Domestic EPCs from KIEEPC start from £65, lodged the same day.
An EPC tells you your current rating and whether your property meets the minimum E standard (current requirement) or what's needed to reach C by October 2030. For planning ahead of the 2030 deadline, an EPC is the right starting point — not a Retrofit Assessment.
An EPC is the legal requirement for selling or letting a property in England and Wales. A Retrofit Assessment is a separate document serving a different purpose — it is not a substitute for an EPC and is not required for sales, lettings or remortgages.
For landlords with multiple properties, a portfolio of EPCs gives a clear picture of which properties need improvement, what works are required to reach compliance, and what the likely costs are. KIEEPC covers portfolio assessments across the West Midlands and nationally.
Where a single straightforward measure is being installed with no significant interactions with other building elements, an EPC will generally provide the evidence needed. If you're unsure whether your situation is straightforward, a quick conversation with Kieran will clarify it at no charge.
New builds require an On-Construction EPC (OCDEA) — produced from construction drawings and specifications — rather than a standard Retrofit Assessment. KIEEPC has connections with accredited OCDEAs and can advise on what's required for your project.
Where a retrofit programme includes a conversion or new build element, OCDEA outputs and U-value calculations interact with the wider retrofit design and compliance evidence. A Retrofit Assessment can ensure these elements are properly integrated into the programme from the outset.
Still not sure? That's exactly what the free initial conversation is for. Tell Kieran what you're trying to achieve and he will tell you which category your situation falls into — and what the most appropriate next step is. Get in touch, no obligation →
Each outcome in the decision guide above means something specific. Here's what each one means in practice and what you should do next.
A Retrofit Assessment is a legal and compliance requirement before any government-funded energy efficiency improvements can be installed. This applies under ECO4, the Warm Homes Plan, SHDF, GBIS, and any local authority or housing association programme operating under PAS2035.
Without a valid Retrofit Assessment by an accredited Retrofit Assessor, works cannot proceed compliantly and funding cannot be claimed. The assessment is not the last step — it is the first. No coordinator, designer or installer can begin compliant work without it.
If your situation falls into this category, contact KIEEPC to arrange an assessment. Kieran is accredited through Elmhurst Energy and Quidos and is TrustMark registered.
In some privately funded situations, a Retrofit Assessment is not legally required but is worth considering — particularly where multiple measures are being installed, where the interactions between measures could cause problems if not properly sequenced, or where the property is older or traditionally constructed.
Installing insulation before ventilation is addressed, for example, can cause condensation and moisture damage. A heat pump installed in a poorly insulated property may not perform as expected. Getting the sequence right protects your investment.
In these situations, KIEEPC can advise whether a full assessment is warranted or whether a shorter technical consultation would give you what you need.
For most homeowners and landlords, a standard Energy Performance Certificate — or an Energy Performance Report (EPR) — will answer the question. An EPC tells you your current energy rating, the improvements that would make a difference, and what rating those improvements would achieve.
If you are trying to understand your property's position ahead of the 2030 MEES deadline, preparing for a sale or remortgage, or simply want to know what works would bring your property to EPC C, a Retrofit Assessment is more than you need.
Domestic EPCs from KIEEPC start from £65. See the landlord EPC page → or homeowner EPC page → for full detail.
The Warm Homes Plan is the government's incoming scheme to fund energy efficiency improvements for owner-occupiers and private renters in lower-rated properties. It will replace and expand ECO4 — and like ECO4, it will require a PAS2035-compliant Retrofit Assessment before funded works can proceed.
PAS2035 compliance — including a formal Retrofit Assessment by an accredited assessor — will be a requirement for properties accessing Warm Homes Plan funding. The scheme is intended to target lower-rated homes and will be broader in scope than ECO4, with a stronger focus on whole-house, fabric-first improvements.
Full eligibility criteria, funding levels, delivery routes and timelines have not yet been published in final form. KIEEPC is monitoring developments closely. If you're trying to plan ahead, get in touch — Kieran can give you an honest steer on where things currently stand and what preparation makes sense now.
The government's current published version sets out policy intent, proposed scheme structure and eligibility principles. Full operational guidance is still to follow.
The questions people most commonly ask when trying to work out whether they need a Retrofit Assessment.
It may well be. If you have been approached by a scheme installer or coordinator about ECO4, the Warm Homes Plan, or any local authority or housing association grant programme, a Retrofit Assessment is almost certainly a genuine requirement — it's the first step in the PAS2035 compliance chain, and nothing else can proceed without it.
However, if someone is telling you that you need a Retrofit Assessment before you've been accepted onto a funded scheme, or is linking the assessment to an installation quote, it's worth getting independent advice first. KIEEPC operates independently — get in touch and Kieran will give you an honest view of whether the assessment is actually required for your situation.
No. Under PAS2035, the Retrofit Assessor must be independent of the installer. The assessment produces the Medium-Term Improvement Plan (MTIP) which specifies what measures are appropriate for the property — if the assessor is also the installer, or is employed by the installer, there is a conflict of interest and the assessment may not be compliant.
An independent Retrofit Assessor — like KIEEPC — has no financial interest in which measures are specified or which installer carries them out. That independence is a compliance requirement, not just good practice.
No. An EPC and a Retrofit Assessment are different documents that serve different purposes. An EPC rates your property's current energy efficiency and suggests potential improvements — it does not include a condition report, ventilation assessment, occupancy assessment, or Medium-Term Improvement Plan.
A Retrofit Assessment cannot be waived or replaced by an existing EPC, even a very recent one. If a funded scheme requires a Retrofit Assessment, a separate assessment must be carried out by an accredited Retrofit Assessor.
Retrofit Assessment pricing at KIEEPC is on enquiry — it depends on the property size, type, complexity and scope of survey required. For government-funded schemes, the cost of the assessment is sometimes covered by the funding body or the delivery partner — ask Kieran when you get in touch and he can advise on what typically applies under the scheme you're accessing.
For privately commissioned assessments, pricing is confirmed before any work is agreed. There is no charge for the initial conversation.
The assessment produces a Condition Report and a Medium-Term Improvement Plan (MTIP). These are passed to the Retrofit Coordinator, who manages the rest of the project — appointing a Retrofit Designer to specify the measures in detail, and then overseeing installation by PAS2030-certified installers.
KIEEPC carries out the Retrofit Assessor role. For projects that also need a Coordinator or Designer, accredited partners can be introduced. If a funded scheme is already in place, the programme's own coordinator will typically take it from there — Kieran can explain what to expect for your specific situation. See the full PAS2035 process →
Start with an EPC or Energy Performance Report. An EPC will show your current rating, the measures that would make a difference, and the rating those measures would achieve. For most homeowners and landlords trying to understand their property's position — whether ahead of the 2030 MEES deadline, a sale, or simply out of interest — this is sufficient.
Domestic EPCs from KIEEPC start from £65 and are lodged the same day. See the landlord EPC page → or homeowner EPC page → for full detail and pricing.
Still not sure which route is right for you? Get in touch — a short conversation with Kieran is free, takes no preparation, and will give you a clear answer. No obligation, no sales pressure.
Talk to Kieran →Whether you need an assessment, an EPC, or just a conversation — here's where to go from here.
Get in touch using the retrofit enquiry form. Kieran will confirm what your project requires and provide pricing before anything is agreed.
Retrofit Enquiry →Domestic EPCs from £65, lodged the same day. Fixed prices, no hidden fees. Covers MEES compliance, 2030 deadline planning, and improvement modelling.
See EPC Pricing →That is a perfectly reasonable place to start. Call, WhatsApp, or send a message. No preparation needed — just tell Kieran what you're trying to do and he'll point you in the right direction.
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