BER Residential

What is a BER (Building Energy Rating)?

A BER Certificate is very similar to the energy  label for appliances like a washing machine or a fridge. A BER cert has a coloured scale from A-G with A1 being the   best energy rating score and G the worst.

BER s certificates became  compulsory in January 2009, for all new and existing houses, apartments  and  commercial buildings being rented or sold to prospective tenants and buyers. As required by the SEAI, all of our surveyors are registered BER assessors. 

The owners of a property being sold or rented in Ireland are obliged to provide the new buyer or tenant with a BER Certificate.

Purchasers or tenants are entitled to seek BER certs when buying or renting houses or apartments. Each BER certificate is published along with an
Advisory Report relating to that property. in the  Advisory Report, your BER Assessor  will identify what changes could be carried out if you wanted to make your home more energy efficient and increase your rating in the future.Both documents are required for legal transaction purposes.

How long is a BER cert valid for?

Once you obtain  a BER Certificate for your home it will remain valid for 10 years from the date it is produced – but any physical changes to your home that would result in altering its energy efficiency would require a new survey to be carried out.