The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has launched an eight week long consultation in a bid to gather input on its new Residential Retrofit Standard for 2023.

RICS says this is a response to a demand for high quality, residential retrofit advice, spurred on by increasingly high energy prices and UK government net-zero targets.

It says recent housing market statistics from the rental and sales sectors show that energy efficient homes can be more desirable and can help to retain a property’s value. Other benefits to retrofitting a home include lower energy consumption and creating a more comfortable environment to live in.

A consumer survey carried out by RICs earlier this month in conjunction with YouGov, showed that 36 per cent of homeowners would not know how to go about making their homes more environmentally friendly. Similarly, 78 per cent of respondents also stated that they would find it helpful if their surveyor could offer retrofitting advice when purchasing a property. These figures highlight the need for trusted, professional advice that customers can rely on.

Antony Parkinson, RICS Senior Property Specialist, comments: “UK homes are not as energy efficient as they could or should be. This needs to change and we have to act now. Improving the energy efficiency needs to be incorporated into the ongoing maintenance of our homes. Efficient homes use less energy which will save money and help save the planet.

“We are developing the new RICS retrofit standard at pace so that RICS members can help customers improve the energy efficiency of their homes. We all have a role to play and by working together we can make a difference”.

An estimated 25m homes in the UK will require some form of energy improvement to meet likely increases in standards.

The consultation – at https://consultations.rics.org/retrofitstandard/ – runs until September 12.