What is a BER Assessment?

A BER assessment is the process of assessing your buildings energy rating (BER). BER assessments are carried out by certified BER assessors.

A BER is like the energy label seen on white appliance like your washing machine or freezer. The BER works on a sliding scale from A to G.

On 1st of January 2009 BER rating is legally required for all homes private or commercial being sold or rented.

As a seller having an 'A' rating will increase the value of your property similarly a 'G' rating will decrease the value. As a buyer or renter, understanding the savings made from a high rating will help you determine the true value of the property.

When applying for a mortgage, your ability repay is considered by the lender so a high rating means lower energy bills and increases the money available to you to repay the mortgage. So remember to mention this to the lender when applying for a mortage.

On new homes part L of the building regulation requires all new build homes must also have a BER rating before they can be sold.

All BER assessments must be carried out by a certified BER assessor . SEI has a list of certified BER Assessors on www.sei.ie .

Below are the grants available under the Home Energy Saving Scheme, the Governments €100 million scheme designed to create 5000 jobs and improve the energy performance of our housing stock