NRH is a delivery partner in a national research initiative led by People Powered Retrofit on behalf of Citizens Advice. The project gathers real experiences from homeowners across England, Wales and Scotland who have installed energy efficiency measures since 2024, including heat pumps, insulation, new windows and doors, and solar panels, whether funded through grants or self-funded.
The aim is to identify gaps in advice, barriers to retrofit, and the support people needed but did not receive. Insights will inform Citizens Advice guidance and support the case for better government policy on retrofit support.
Citizens Advice research shows that poor or unclear advice is one of the biggest blockers to people starting retrofit work. Homeowners are often unsure where to begin, who to trust, or how to finance improvements. A survey of over 10,000 homeowners confirmed that many want to retrofit but face significant concerns and barriers.
This project responds to that gap by gathering real-world experiences and using them to design better advice pathways and support mechanisms for households across the UK.
The project gathers testimony and insight from homeowners who have recently gone through the retrofit process. This evidence base is used to examine where advice fell short, what information was missing, and what would have made the process clearer or more accessible.
Findings will be used by Citizens Advice to strengthen their guidance offer and to make the case for systemic improvements to how retrofit advice is structured, funded and delivered at a national level.
