Who needs a BER certificate

Information from SEAI

A seller must provide a BER to prospective buyers or tenants when a home is constructed, sold or rented under the following circumstances:

  • New homes where planning permission was applied for on or after the 1st of January 2007. A new dwelling (i.e. a dwelling that has never been sold or occupied) is exempt from the BER requirement if it had been the subject of a planning application submitted on or before 31 December 2006 and if it was substantially completed by 30 June 2008. “Substantially completed” means that the external walls have been erected.
  • All existing homes for sale or rent on or after the 1st of January 2009. An existing dwelling is a dwelling which has previously been sold and/or occupied.

All new homes (even when not for sale) must have a BER certificate (barring those defined as being exempt above) before they are occupied as detailed under S.I. 666 underhttp://www.environ.ie/en/Legislation/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/

BER assessments performed on new dwellings will also help determine compliance to Part L of the Building Regulations.

There are exemptions for certain categories of buildings (Ref. S.I. No.666 of 2006). For a more detailed list click here.