A retrofit coordinator manages a retrofit project from start to finish: reviewing the assessment, evaluating options, preparing a medium-term improvement plan, arranging the right level of design, checking risks during the work, and completing handover. Whether you need one depends mainly on how the project is funded and how complex it is.
When a retrofit coordinator is required
You need a retrofit coordinator when work must comply with PAS 2035:2023. That includes measures funded through:
- ECO4 (extended to 31 December 2026)
- Warm Homes: Local Grant (running to 31 March 2028)
- Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund
- Other schemes or installers that require TrustMark lodgement under PAS 2035
Under these schemes, project information is lodged in the TrustMark data warehouse by the retrofit coordinator. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is different: it requires an MCS-certified installer, not PAS 2035 coordination.
When it is optional but worthwhile
- You are planning several measures that interact – for example insulation, new windows and a heat pump
- The home is older, solid-walled, listed or in a conservation area
- There have been damp, mould or condensation problems
- You want to phase works over several years without undoing earlier work
- Several flats or owners share the building
When you may not need one
A single, low-risk measure that does not affect moisture or ventilation – such as upgrading heating controls – is unlikely to need formal coordination, unless funding rules require it.
What a coordinator does – and does not do
| Does | Does not (unless separately agreed) |
|---|---|
| Reviews the retrofit assessment | Install measures |
| Evaluates improvement options as a package | Act as principal contractor or site manager |
| Prepares a medium-term improvement plan | Provide structural engineering |
| Decides what design input is needed and checks it | Guarantee funding approval |
| Checks risks during installation and completes handover | Replace Building Regulations approval |
Questions to ask before appointing one
- Which qualification does the named coordinator hold? (The Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Management is commonly required.)
- Who carries out the assessment and the design?
- How many site visits are included?
- Who handles lodgement, if your scheme requires it?
- How will they communicate with you, the installer and any freeholder?
See also: retrofit roles explained.
Need help with your property? We provide retrofit coordination for London homes and programmes.
Sources and further reading
- PAS 2035/2030:2023 transition – DESNZ letter (TrustMark, March 2025)
- Warm Homes: Local Grant policy guidance (GOV.UK, July 2026)
- PAS 2035 competencies (Elmhurst Energy)
- TrustMark – find a registered business
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme – what you can get (GOV.UK)
This guide is general information, not advice for a specific property. Standards and scheme rules change; check the current version before relying on them.