The definitive A to G SEAI BER rating guide along with associated costs, suggestions & ideas
Do I need an A rated house?
No. A C or B rating is perfectly fine, unless you have a specific requirement for an A1 BER rating.
Is B or C a good BER rating?
Yes. Its better than good. The only way you will get an A rating is probably by having solar panels and / or a heat pump as well as some of these measures below:
- Cavity / internal or external wall insulation
- Attic insulation
- Double glazed windows
- Composite door
- Attic insulation
- Heating controls
The above measures, without a heat pump, or solar panels, will probably get you a low B or a high C rating in your BER assessment.
With just 3 simple steps, we moved from an E BER rating up to C1
In my mind C1+ is a great BER rating. I’m sure you have read that higher BER ratings mean you paying higher bills for gas. During the summer, a warmer home, means you will be required to run fans.
I’m sure you have also read, that 50% of BER assessments carried out have been done so incorrectly. So in reality, I would take a BER rating with a pinch of salt. If you are around the D or E BER rating level, don’t spend more than €5K increasing it to a C or B rating.
Windows and doors installation
If you are getting general work done on your house, such as upgrading old single glazed windows and a wooden door to new double or triple glazed windows & composite doors installed, your BER rating should increase from a E or D to a C or B.
If your house is too cold, get the work done and the BER rating increase will follow. If your house is the perfect temperature, don’t go spending €K’s to get an A BER rating unless you have a specific reason to do so, e.g. getting a greener mortgage or loan with a lower interest rate.
With a green mortgage, you may have a lower interest rate, but the house may cost more if an A rating is attached to the property.
For a higher rating, there is an emphasis on solar. That is to say open fires, insert stoves, standing stoves etc are frowned upon. So buyer beware if you cannot heat your new home with coal, wood or bricket fire. You may desire an open fire (non electric) in case of an electrical power outage or blackout. Here are some tips to keep warm in winter on a tight budget.
Watch this video and see how you can snag a Cheap (or even free) BER Cert Rating Dublin & Ireland
How Much Does A BER Cert Cost?
In reality, there is no difference in any BER assessment. No one BER cert is better than another. If you can get a BER Cert for less than €120, bite their hand off. Each BER assessor has a lot of fees and charges to cover before they make a profit. So in reality a good, or average cost for a BER rating is on average €160 with a price range of about €150-€300. If you are quoted €500+ for a BER rating from a registered SEAI BER assessor, I would request a few more quotes.
We’ve compiled a full list of our enquiries for BER rating prices here.
Are BER Certs free?
If you are selling your property, your estate agent might be kind enough to cough up for a free BER Cert. Your plumber, boiler installer, solar panel installer, etc, may throw in a free BER Cert included in the price of the job. You need the BER rating after the work is done to show how the work has improved the rating. Might be worth enquiring before the job starts if it includes the BER Cert rating in the end