Better Energy Homes and Solar PV Grants

1.1 - How do I apply for a Better Energy Homes grant?

- There are two ways to apply for a grant on Better Energy Homes:

Option 1

Apply yourself.

With this grant route, applicants select an SEAI registered contractor and apply for a grant through our easy-to-use online application system. 

The grant is paid directly to the applicant or the contractor provided

• works have been completed,

  and 

• the Request for Payment form, and Declaration of Works forms have been completed in a compliant way and submitted.

Option 2

Choose a One Stop Shop, who will apply and manage the entire project on your behalf. Another advantage is that the grant is deducted upfront from the cost of works by the One Stop Shop

One Stop Shops can also help you apply for low-cost government loans for your home energy upgrades via the Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme. The minimum loan amount is €5,000.

1.2 - What information do I need in order to apply for a grant?

- To apply for a grant you will need the following:

• Your property's MPRN (meter point reference number). This unique 11-digit number can be found in the top right-hand corner of your electricity bill.
• Your dwelling type (eg. apartment, detached, mid-terrace, etc.)
• The grants you wish to apply for
• Your contractor selected (must be on the list of registered SEAI contractors)
• Year home was built and occupied
• If applying for a Heat Pump, a Technical Assessment may be needed, see 'Do I have to do a lot of work to my home before I can install a Heat Pump and get a grant?' below for further details.

1.3 - I can't get my application finished in 8 months. Can you extend the application period?

- Yes, we can accommodate extensions in certain cases. Contact us prior to grant expiry if you require additional time to complete the works.

1.4 - Can Landlords apply for grants from Better Energy Homes?

- Yes, the Better Energy Homes grants are available to all landlords both private and commercial without means testing.

• Grants between €700 and €8,000 for energy upgrades including attic insulation, wall insulation, heat pumps, heating controls and solar PV
• The landlord, as homeowner must apply for the grant directly
• Must use a contractor registered with SEAI
• Grants for landlords are available for properties built and occupied before 2011 for insulation and heating controls, and before 2021 for heat pumps and renewable systems
• Commercial Landlord Applicants must contact [email protected] for the relevant Authorisation forms before applying for a Better Energy Homes grant.

1.5 - I did not submit my request for payment forms after the works were completed, can I still get my grant payment?

- Yes, we can extend but contact us prior to grant expiry if you require additional time to complete the works.

1.6 - Can I apply for a Better Energy Homes grant if my home is located on an Island?

Yes, homeowners from certain islands are entitled to additional grant support. A list of eligible islands can be found here: List of eligible islands.

1.7 - Can I apply for a Better Energy Homes grant after I have already begun Retrofit works on my home?

No. You must apply for your grant and accept the grant offer before you begin works. Grant applications for works done before or after the grant offer period are not eligible for payment.

2.1 - How can I check if my property is eligible for a grant?

1. Go to SEAI BEH - Apply for Grant
2. Enter your:
   • Property's MPRN (meter point reference number). This number can be found in the top right-hand corner of your electricity bill.
   • Email
   • Dwelling Type
   • Year home built
   • Application Type

2.2 - Can I get a grant for windows and doors?

- Grants for windows and doors are available under our One Stop Shop (OSS) programme provided that: 

• A range of retrofitting measures is installed.
• Your home has an existing BER of B3 or lower.
• A minimum rating of B2 on work completion is achieved. 

- See One Stop Shop Services for further details. 
- Grants for windows and doors are not available through the Better Energy Homes scheme.

2.3 - Is there a grant for new or replacement gas or oil boilers?

- SEAI supports heating controls to help reduce your carbon footprint. The grant for this is €700 which you can avail of with or without the installation of a high efficiency boiler.

- SEAI does not give grants for new or replacement fossil fuel boilers such as gas or oil boilers.

2.4 - Do I have to do a lot of work to my home before I can install a Heat Pump and get a grant?

To qualify for a Heat Pump grant your home needs to have sufficiently low heat loss. The amount of work required before installing a heat pump depends on when your home was built:

- Pre-2007 built homes: 

Your home might already have a sufficient heat loss level, making it ready for a heat pump. This depends on the heat loss information from a valid Building Energy Rating (BER) assessment. 

For more information on a Sufficient Heat Loss, Valid BER and a Compliant Heat Loss Indicator (HLI) in relation to Heat Pump Grant eligibility please click here. 

If your home doesn’t meet the required heat loss level, a Technical Assessment by a registered Technical Advisor is necessary. There is a €200 grant available towards this assessment. Any fabric upgrades identified in the assessment are mandatory to ensure your home meets the required Heat Loss Indicator (HLI) and that the heat pump performs efficiently.

- Post-2007 built homes: 

A Technical Assessment is not mandatory as these homes typically have low heat loss due to their original building fabric. Homeowners can choose to complete a Self-Declaration form or opt for a Technical Assessment. One of these documents must be uploaded as part of the Heat Pump Grant application. 

Simple Insulation upgrades, like roof and wall insulation, can help achieve the necessary heat loss levels. For more detailed information, you can visit the SEAI Heat Pump System Grant webpage.

2.5 - What are traditional buildings?

Traditional buildings have the following features:

• This type of construction was used for the majority of buildings constructed in Ireland before 1940.
• Solid masonry walls (brick or stone, often with a render finish) - i.e. no cavity
• Single-glazed timber or metal windows
• Timber-framed roofs with slate or tiles, sometimes thatch or metal
• Flexible and 'breathable' construction
• No damp-proof course

2.6 - Are there grants available for pre-1940 buildings and for heritage buildings?

- Grants are available for traditional homes, including pre-1940 and heritage buildings for the following measures:

• Roof
• Heating controls
• Solar thermal
• Solar Electricity (refer to Solar Electricity PV Grants for further details)

However, we would strongly recommend you get specialised advice before carrying out any works on these types of buildings, with particular regard to walls.

They may require specific types of insulation materials so as not to affect the breathability of the building.  

Please see Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings and Improving Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings for further details.

3.1 - What is the average payment schedule for grants? When will I get paid?

- Currently, the time for grant payments is 4-6 weeks after all documentation is correctly completed and submitted.

- If your home is inspected and reworks are necessary, your contractor will need to make a return visit to bring the works to the required standard. This will impact payment timeframes. 

3.2 - How do I get a contractor?

- To avail of a grant you must use an SEAI registered contractor. 
- You can find an SEAI registered contractor at SEAI BEH - Contractor Search.

3.3 - What is SEAI's role in relation to contractors?

- Contractors are registered by SEAI on the basis of: 

• Adhering to SEAI's technical standards and code of practice
• Tax compliance
• Insurance cover
• Having a standard contract in place with the homeowner for all works 

- SEAI does not provide a guarantee, warranty, or approve a company's or the contractor's works. Any dispute must be resolved between the homeowner and contractor.

4.1 - How can I ensure my appointed contractor will do a good job?

• Select an SEAI registered contractor.
• Ensure your contractor is registered for the type of work that they are carrying out, eg. if a contractor is registered for wall insulation only, they can't be used for grant aided works for roof insulation.
• Shop around to get the best quote.
• Check references, talk to previous customers.
• Have a written contract with the contractor which details the works, prices, time, payment terms and warranties.
• Follow guidelines as per Homeowner Application Guide. 

4.2 - What documentation does my contractor have to provide me with in terms of a potential inspection for a Heat Pump?

- After the Heat Pump installation make sure your contractor provides you with:

Declaration of Works Form

Supporting Documents for Heat Pump

• Completed in all parts
• Ecodesign datasheet
• Completed Designer/Installer spreadsheet
• Commissioning certificate
• Safe Electric Completion certificate
• Details of F-Gas Certified Company and sign-off
• Where applicable, documentation of Ground and Water collector design and installation
• User and Installation manuals

- It's important to keep these documents as they will be needed for the inspection and they must be present in order for the grant to be paid. Also, keep these documents safe for the BER assessor, when you sell your house, etc.

4.3 - Why is my house selected for inspection and what is the impact on the grant payment?

- We carry out inspections in order to: 

• Maintain high quality standards and best practice.
• Ensure measures implemented in your home improve the energy efficiency to the greatest extent possible. 

- If your home is selected for pre-payment inspection, payment will remain on hold until the inspection and any potential reworks are completed. 
- See full details on inspections in section 7 of the Application Guide.

4.4 - What should I do If I am notified of an SEAI inspection?

- Give the inspector access to your home, as this is a condition for grant payment.

- Make sure you have received the Safety File from the contractor. The Safety File contains the Declaration of Works forms signed by you, your contractor and your BER Assessor and all additional documents such as:

• Invoice for works
• Contract for works
• Receipt/proof of payment
• Supplier warranty
• Supplier guarantee
• Boiler logbook
• Product certification
• Manufacturer/product details and datasheets
• Commissioning reports
• Other relevant certificates

4.5 - Does my house need ventilation?

- Yes, it does. You need ventilation in your home to get fresh air and reduce harmful pollutants in your home. It also minimises the risk of condensation, damp and mould; and provides an air supply to fuel burning appliances. For further details, see Why you need proper ventilation in your home

4.6 - Wall Insulation - What is a Whole-Surface Solution?

- What does a whole-surface solution mean for you:

• Insulation of all external walls achieving optimum insulation.
• Requirement under the Better Energy Homes grant programme, ie. partial insulations based on affordability are not accepted.  
• In order to fully insulate your home, you may need to apply a mix of wall insulation measures, ie part cavity insulation and part external insulation.
• Speak with your contractor to get advice on the whole-surface solution that's best for your home.
• The grant application must be for the greatest measure by wall area and only one wall grant will be paid.

Example: If you require part cavity insulation and part external insulation, you will only be eligible for the wall insulation grant for the largest wall area insulated.

For further information on optimum wall insulations, please refer to the Homeowner's Homeowner Application Guide, Section 2.2.

4.7 - The works are completed. What do I do next?

- Submit your Declarations of Works forms signed by you, the Contractor(s), and BER Assessor, together with your signed and completed Request for Payment form.

- Incomplete or missing forms will result in your grant claim being rejected and all forms being returned to you. This may result in a delay and/or cancellation of your grant claim.