Residential Retrofit Surveying (AssocRICS) pilot pathway
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With the UK requiring 500,000 home retrofits per year by 2025 and 1 million by 2030 to meet net zero targets, there's an urgent need for skilled professionals in the domestic retrofit sector. We are exploring this pathway to create opportunities for new entrants and RICS members to specialise in retrofit services across six key roles: lead professional, assessor, designer, contract administrator, builder, and post retrofit inspector.
The pathway would offer a new way into RICS membership which will promote high-quality reports that comply with national standards like PAS 2035, BS 40104 and RICS' own Residential Retrofit Standard. It would also provide dedicated CPD for retrofit services, helping to upskill current members while creating pathways for existing retrofit professionals to join RICS.
This initiative responds to growing market demand from consumers, governments, and funders who want to work with regulated professionals to build trust and mitigate risk in retrofit projects.
Core areas of technical competency we anticipate will be included within this pathway (subject to finalisation)
- Construction technology and environmental services
- Retrofit testing, monitoring and evaluation
- Building pathology
- Measurement
- Fire and building safety
- Risk management
We are also considering the addition of a limited number of sector-based optional competencies.
* These are in addition to achievement of the mandatory RICS competencies required for AssocRICS entry.
Published date: 11 November 2025
We have closed expressions of interest for the Residential Retrofit Surveying (AssocRICS) pathway and will be contacting eligible candidates to send their applications to join the pilot assessment stage.
Industry endorsements
“We welcome the development of the new RICS retrofit pathway for surveyors and we fully support efforts to raise understanding and awareness across the industry. Establishing clearer guidance and stronger standards is an important step towards ensuring retrofit projects are delivered safely, effectively and with consumer protection at their core, particularly given the potential for consumer detriment in this space that often affects the most vulnerable in society.”
Charles Roe
Director of Mortgages, UK Finance
“We are delighted to be supporting the RICS Residential Retrofit Pathway. The Retrofit Academy’s mission is to professionalise retrofit – we believe that the RICS Residential Pathway is a crucial step to making that possible. Well trained and informed retrofit professionals should have an equal standing and the same code of practice as other built environment professionals.”
David Pierpoint
Chief Executive, Retrofit Academy
“To meet our decarbonisation goal, the domestic sector will need highly skilled retrofit professionals. A bespoke retrofit pathway to join RICS recognises and supports this, and is warmly welcomed.”
Stephen Tracey BSc Hons,
Retrofit Divisional Manager, North and Central, WPS
“Our market is changing and the areas of a property that lenders and home owners will be focused on are also changing. It is great to see the RICS get out in front of that change and develop entry pathways aligned to those client aspirations, to ensure that its members will have the knowledge and skills to continue to support the wider built environment”
Simon Jackson
CEO, SDL Surveying
Read frequently asked questions regarding the pathways pilot here.
