BER rating: a comprehensive 2026 guide

This guide will help you understand the BER rating scale and why it matters. It also covers who needs a BER certificate, how to find or get one, grants available to help improve your rating, and what it means for your home insurance.

What's covered:

• What is a BER rating?
• BER rating scale explained
• Who needs a BER certificate?
• How do I find my BER rating?
• How do I get a BER certificate?
• How is a BER rating calculated?
• How much does a BER assessment cost?
• What does “BER exempt” mean?
• How does BER rating affect home insurance costs?
• Grants and support
• Common BER rating FAQs

What is a BER rating?

The Building Energy Rating (BER) is a scale used to measure the energy efficiency of your home. It measures a property’s overall performance in terms of energy use and carbon dioxide (CO₂) output, making it easier to understand how much energy the home uses and how expensive it is to heat.

The BER rating gives homeowners, buyers and tenants a clear way to factor energy performance into decisions about buying, renting or selling a property. Understanding the BER rating scale makes it easier to assess a home's likely running costs, environmental impact and overall sustainability. A good BER rating can also increase the potential value of a home.

BER rating scale explained

The energy efficiency rating uses a simple A to G scale:

• A‑rated homes are the most energy efficient, meaning they use less energy to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature and typically have lower energy bills
• G‑rated homes are the least energy efficient and usually require much more energy to heat, resulting in higher running costs

Put simply, the better your home’s BER rating, the lower your energy bills and the less carbon dioxide emissions your home produces when the heating is on. This makes the BER a useful benchmark for homeowners, buyers and tenants who want to understand how a property is likely to perform day to day.

The BER is measured in kWh per square metre of floor area of the dwelling per year (kWh/m2/year). The table below from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows every Building Energy Rating (BER) category and its level of efficiency:

*Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO)

Note: From 24 May 2026, Ireland will introduce a new, simplified BER rating scale for residential properties. The current A1–G system will be replaced with a clearer A0–G scale, removing all sub‑categories such as B1, B2, and B3 to make BER ratings easier to understand and compare.

Why your home’s BER rating matters

Improving your home’s BER can reduce its carbon footprint while also providing financial benefits by reducing your energy bills over time. Knowing your home’s BER rating also makes it easier to identify areas to improve energy efficiency. This might involve better insulation, upgraded heating controls or switching to renewable energy sources, all of which can improve your home's energy efficiency.

Improving your home’s BER can also increase its overall value. Properties with stronger BER ratings tend to be more attractive to buyers, as they are more likely to invest in energy‑efficient homes that offer lower running costs.

Also read: How to improve BER rating: 10 proven ways to boost your home’s energy efficiency

BER certificates became a legal requirement in 2007 for new dwellings in Ireland that that applied for planning permission. In 2009, it became mandatory for all existing buildings offered for sale or rent as part of a government effort to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

BER certificates are valid for 10 years provided no major changes are made to the property that would affect its energy performance.

Who needs a BER certificate?

A Building Energy Rating certificate (BER) is a legal requirement for all property owners in Ireland. This includes:

• Property sellers: Anyone selling a residential or commercial property
• Landlords: Anyone letting a property to tenants
• New home builders: Owners or developers constructing new homes
• Grant applicants: Homeowners applying for certain SEAI energy upgrade grants

The BER rating must be shown in all property advertisements, and a valid certificate must be given to potential buyers or tenants. You can find more information about these legal requirements on the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) website.

How do I find my BER rating?

You can check if your property already has a valid BER certificate on the SEAI National BER Register. If the property is listed, you can download the certificate online. The tool also allows you to view BER details for homes that are currently for sale or rent.

To search the register, you’ll need one of the following:

• MPRN number (Meter Point Reference Number): found at the top of your electricity bill
• Existing BER number: shown on the BER certificate or advisory report

If the property has a BER, the register will display:

• The BER certificate
• The BER advisory report
• The BER expiry date

You can find more information about finding an existing BER on this SEAI page.

How do I get a BER certificate?

To get a BER certificate, if your home doesn't already have one, you’ll need to arrange a BER assessment with a qualified assessor. The SEAI has a national register of BER assessors, which you can use to find one in your area. Only assessors listed on this national register are authorised to issue BER certificates in Ireland.

The assessment involves an on‑site inspection of your home, which typically takes 30 minutes to one hour, depending on the size and layout of the property. During the visit, the BER assessor surveys each room in the home, including the attic and garage, where applicable, and records details needed to complete the assessment.

As part of the inspection, the assessor gathers information such as:

• The type and age of the building, including any extensions
• Floor dimensions, room heights, and window and door sizes
• Insulation levels in walls, roofs and floors
• Details of heating, hot water and ventilation systems
• Heating controls, radiators, lighting and baths or showers
• Any renewable energy systems installed

The assessor may also take photographs of specific elements of the property to support the assessment and will ask whether any retrofit or upgrade works have been completed. If improvements have been made, you may be asked to provide documentation such as invoices or certificates, so it’s helpful to have this information ready in advance.

Once the assessment is complete, the information gathered is used to calculate the BER rating. The assessor will give you:

• A BER certificate, which shows the property’s energy rating
• A BER advisory report, which outlines recommended energy efficiency improvements

How is a BER rating calculated?

A BER rating is based on a home’s calculated energy performance, rather than how the occupants use energy day to day. The calculation takes into account the energy required for:

• Space heating and hot water heating
• Ventilation
• Lighting

BER assessors use a standard method called the Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure (DEAP) to calculate how much energy the building would typically use per square metre each year, along with the associated CO₂ emissions. A BER is an asset rating, meaning it's based on the building itself and its installed systems, not on occupant behaviour. To ensure consistency:

• The number of occupants is assumed based on floor area
• Heating patterns and indoor temperatures are standardised
• Appliance use (such as TVs, cookers and washing machines) is excluded

This approach works in a similar way to the fuel economy of a car. It doesn’t reflect real‑world usage, but instead provides a consistent benchmark that helps homeowners, buyers and tenants compare the energy performance of different properties.

How much does a BER assessment cost?

The cost of a BER assessment varies depending on the assessor you choose and the size of the property.

According to Bord Gáis Energy, the average cost (including VAT) for a typical home or apartment of 1,200 sq ft is around €150, while larger houses, duplexes or penthouses typically cost between €200 and €300*.

Note: these figures are only estimates, so it’s best to speak directly with a BER assessor to confirm the cost for your specific property. Since there's no set fee, we recommend shopping around and comparing quotes from several BER assessors to find the best value.

What does “BER exempt” mean?

Some types of buildings are exempt from the BER rating requirement and do not need a BER certificate when they are sold or rented. Buildings that are commonly exempt include:

• Stand-alone buildings with a total floor area of under 50 square metres
• Protected structures
• National monuments
• Places of worship or buildings used for religious purposes
• Agricultural buildings that are not used for residential purposes
• Certain temporary buildings
• Industrial buildings that are not intended for human occupancy and have an installed heat capacity of less than 10 W/m²

If a property is classed as a protected structure, it's generally exempt from the BER requirement. Georgian and Victorian homes typically fall under this category. You can check whether a property is listed as a protected structure with your local city or county council.

Even if your property is BER exempt, it's still worth getting a BER assessment to understand its energy performance and potential planning improvements.

How does BER rating affect home insurance costs?

Insurers may factor a property’s BER rating into its overall risk profile, which can in turn influence the cost of your home insurance. This makes it an important factor to bear in mind when buying a property. For example, some insurers consider modern, energy‑efficient homes to carry a lower risk for certain types of claims, such as those related to outdated heating systems.

Also read: How do I calculate my buildings sum insured? Your 2026 guide

Some insurers also offer discounts for energy-efficient homes with a BER rating of B or higher, which can lower premiums, giving homeowners added incentive to make home improvements that reduce energy use and carbon emissions.

While a higher BER rating doesn't immediately lower your home insurance premium with all providers, improving a home's energy efficiency can still strengthen its overall risk profile and increase its long‑term value.

Grants and support

If you're looking to improve your home’s energy efficiency, you may be eligible for an SEAI grant. These grants offer financial support to homeowners seeking to enhance their property’s energy performance. The SEAI has three grant options available:

• Individual energy upgrades (Better Energy Homes): Designed for homeowners or landlords carrying out specific upgrades over time, this option allows you to choose your own SEAI‑registered contractors and claim grants after the work is completed and a new BER is issued.
• Complete home energy upgrade (National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme): This route supports upgrades to bring a home to BER B2 or higher, with a registered One Stop Shop managing the full project, including grants and contractors, and deducting the grant amount upfront.
• Fully funded energy upgrades (Warmer Homes Scheme): Available to eligible homeowners on certain social welfare payments, this scheme provides free energy efficiency upgrades, with the SEAI managing the entire process at no cost to the homeowner.

For more details about the SEAI home energy upgrade grants and their eligibility criteria, see the SEAI home energy grants page.

Sources:

• SEAI - A Guide to Building Energy Rating for Homeowners
• Citizens Information - Getting a Building Energy Rating for your home
• Central Statistics Office - Domestic Building Energy Ratings

This is a marketing article from Howden Insurance. The information in this guide is accurate at time of publication. This content is provided for general information only and does not constitute financial or insurance advice.