22 Skyline | Edition 8 | Winter 2025
What this means for mortgage advisers
1. Treat retrofit as a product-led conversation Green or‘ retrofit-ready’ mortgage products are gradually widening – preferential rates, cashback for energy improvements, drawdowns for staged works, or post-works rate switches once EPC improves. Position these proactively when clients are: remortgaging, acquiring a rental, or refinancing to fund works.
2. Build a standard data pack When a client inquires about finance for improvements, request: EPC, basic building data( age, type, walls / roof), heating system, fuel, and any recent bills. With a tool like Retrogreen, you can produce an initial pathway and ballpark budget.
3. Stack incentives first, then finance the gap Using the Retrogreen App and consultation service, advisers and clients can check BUS eligibility, factor grant values into the budget, and confirm that MCS-certified installers are selected to secure funding. When Solar PV is part of the works, VAT treatment and installer requirements are also identified. Once grants are applied, the platform helps model the residual cost against suitable finance options such as term products, further advances, or unsecured top-ups.
4. Landlord sequencing matters Retrogreen allows landlords and advisers to model sequencing across portfolios, aligning works with tenancy cycles to minimise disruption. The tool identifies low-disruption measures( such as loft insulation, draught-proofing, or controls) and allows for more disruptive items like heating system changeovers to be planned during voids or shorter outage windows. This approach supports rent continuity while providing a structured and costed pathway for improvements.
5. Underwrite for performance, not just kit Retrogreen pathways embed heat-loss calculations, emitter schedules, and commissioning requirements into every plan. By following a PAS-aligned process, overseen by qualified Retrofit Coordinators / Designers, the platform provides a clearer view of expected outcomes. This helps lenders and landlords move beyond kit-based underwriting towards performance assurance, reducing the risk of tenant dissatisfaction and ensuring more reliable results.
6. Bake in post-works verification Retrogreen integrates post-works verification into the workflow, generating a compliance pack that includes commissioning sheets, warranties, installer credentials( e. g. MCS where applicable), and an updated EPC. This digital‘ proof of performance’ not only helps meet lender requirements for remortgages or rate switches, but also strengthens landlord records for portfolio valuations and future disposals.
Funding patterns we see working
1 Remortgage + cashback: Use a remortgage to fund fabric upgrades, then a green-product cashback and rate-switch once EPC improves.
1 Further advance: For landlords with equity headroom, a further advance can fund an Air Source Heat Pump after the fabric is sorted.