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BER certificate Ireland: cost, how to get one and the new A0 to G ratings

Last updated: · Figures checked 18 October 2026 · By the HouseWise team

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A Building Energy Rating (BER) shows how energy efficient a home is. You need one to sell or rent a home, and you need a post-works BER to get almost any SEAI grant paid. On 24 May 2026 the scale itself changed, so newer certificates look different from older ones.

The new BER scale (from 24 May 2026)

The old scale had 15 bands (A1, A2, A3, B1 and so on down to G). For certificates issued from 24 May 2026 there are eight (SEAI, CSO background notes):

New rating Energy use (kWh/m²/yr)
A0 ≤ 42, and meets the zero-emission building criteria
A ≤ 75
B ≤ 150
C ≤ 225
D ≤ 275
E ≤ 325
F ≤ 375
G > 375

The old scale ran A1 (≤ 25) to G (> 450), with D1 ≤ 260, D2 ≤ 300, E1 ≤ 340, E2 ≤ 380 and F ≤ 450.

What this means for you:

  • The thresholds for C and above are the same on both scales (the CSO says so in its notes), so an old B2 is a B on the new scale. Below C the bands are narrower: a home at 290 kWh/m²/yr was a D2 but would be an E on the new scale, with nothing about the house changed.
  • A0 is a new top band for highly efficient homes that don't use fossil fuels: a home with a gas boiler can't be A0 (Citizens Information).
  • Existing certificates stay valid for 10 years from their issue date, including for selling and renting.
  • New certificates add information on energy use, renewable energy and whole-life carbon (Global Warming Potential), plus a QR code linking to tailored upgrade advice.
  • For One Stop Shop grants, the old target of a B2 post-works BER is now simply a B.

How much does a BER cost?

Source Price
SEAI median cost of post-works BERs, January to June 2026 (PDF) €280 detached and semi-D, €275 mid-terrace, €245 apartment
Citizens Information guide (link) around €150 for an apartment, €200 to €300 for a standard house

Assessors set their own prices, so get at least three quotes. SEAI pays €50 towards the post-works BER after grant-aided works (one per home). A BER bought just to sell or rent a home gets no grant.

How to get a BER

  1. Check if you already have one. Search the National BER Register using your MPRN (top of your electricity bill) or BER number.
  2. Find a registered assessor using SEAI's register of BER assessors (linked from seai.ie/ber) and get quotes.
  3. The survey usually takes 30 minutes to an hour. The assessor goes through every room, the attic and any garage, takes photos and records insulation, windows, heating, hot water, ventilation and lighting.
  4. You get two documents: the BER certificate and an advisory report with recommended upgrades.

How long does a BER last?

Ten years, unless you make structural changes or change the heating system, in which case you need a new one. After grant-aided work you'll get a new BER anyway.

When you need a BER

  • Selling or renting a home (all ads must show the BER).
  • Every new home.
  • Drawing down most SEAI grants (post-works BER).
  • Older homes applying for a heat pump grant can use a valid BER showing a Heat Loss Indicator (HLI) of 2.3 or less instead of a technical assessment.

Exempt buildings include stand-alone buildings under 50 m², protected structures, national monuments, places of worship and certain temporary buildings (Citizens Information). You can still get a BER voluntarily.

How to improve your BER

The usual order, cheapest first: attic insulation, cavity wall insulation, heating controls, then windows and doors, internal or external wall insulation, and a heat pump. Solar PV also helps. See our SEAI grants guide for every grant. While you wait for bigger works, reducing damp and condensation makes a home more comfortable, though it won't change the BER itself.

Add up the grants for your home with our grant estimator

FAQs

How much is a BER cert in Ireland? SEAI's median for post-works BERs in the first half of 2026 was €275 to €280 for a house and €245 for an apartment. Citizens Information puts it at around €150 for an apartment and €200 to €300 for a house.

Is my old B2 rating still valid? Yes, for 10 years from when it was issued. If you get a new BER, it will show the new scale (a B2 becomes a B).

Who pays for the BER when selling or renting? The owner.

Does a BER assessor give advice on grants? The advisory report recommends upgrades, and SEAI's newer certificates link to upgrade information. The grant rules themselves are on seai.ie.

Sources

All checked 18 October 2026.