How do I find my BER certificate?
Search SEAI’s National BER Register with your MPRN (the 11-digit number on your electricity bill) or your BER number. You can view and download the certificate and advisory report free.
BER guide for homeowners
BER certificates in Ireland: find, get and understand yours
Your Building Energy Rating matters for selling, renting, mortgages and most home energy grants. Here is how to find it, get a new one and read it.
Quick answer: A BER rates your home’s energy performance from A0 (best) to G. You can look up an existing BER and its advisory report free on SEAI’s National BER Register with your MPRN, the 11-digit number on your electricity bill. A new BER is done by an independent SEAI-registered assessor, and you need a post-works BER to claim most SEAI grants: SEAI pays €50 towards it.
Updated 25 September 2026 · Checked against SEAI.ie
✓ Independent guidance✓ Checked against official sources✓ Help on WhatsApp
At a glance
| BER scale | A0, A, B, C, D, E, F, G since 24 May 2026 (no more B1, B2, B3 and so on) |
|---|---|
| Valid for | 10 years from the date of issue. Certificates issued before May 2026 stay valid |
| Required when | Selling or renting a home, including renewing a rental contract |
| Find an existing BER | Free on SEAI’s National BER Register, using your MPRN or BER number |
| Who does a BER | An independent BER assessor registered with SEAI, hired directly by the owner |
| Cost | Set by each assessor. SEAI recommends getting at least three quotes |
| Grants | Most SEAI grants need a post-works BER, and SEAI pays €50 towards it |
The new BER scale (from 24 May 2026)
| Rating | What it means |
|---|---|
| A0 | New top rating: the most efficient buildings, using no fossil fuels |
| A and B | Very efficient homes, usually well insulated with modern heating such as a heat pump |
| C and D | Typical of many Irish homes: room to improve |
| E, F and G | Least efficient: usually poor insulation and older heating. The biggest gains from upgrades |
Source: SEAI, new simplified BER scale. The sub-categories such as B1, B2 and B3 were removed on 24 May 2026.
The scale went from 15 levels to 8. Existing certificates stay valid for 10 years from their issue date and can still be used to sell or rent. The new certificate also shows energy use, the renewable energy contribution, lifetime carbon (Global Warming Potential) and a QR code with upgrade information.
For grants, the One Stop Shop scheme’s old target of a B2 after the work is now simply a B. SEAI says the minimum improvement needed has not changed.
How to find your existing BER and advisory report
- Find your MPRN: it is the 11-digit number at the top right of your electricity bill.
- Search the register: enter the MPRN or BER number on SEAI’s National BER Register. You can view and download the certificate.
- Get the advisory report: it comes with the BER and lists the upgrades that would improve your rating. It also rates your attic and walls, which matters for the windows and doors grant.
Can’t find it? The home may never have had a BER, or it may be registered under a different MPRN. Send us a message on WhatsApp: we have short videos showing where to find your MPRN and your report, and if you send us your advisory report we will explain what it means for your grants.
Have your advisory report? Send it to us on WhatsApp and we’ll explain it.
Chat on WhatsAppHow to get a new BER assessment
- Find an assessor: use SEAI’s register. Assessors must be independent and hired directly by you, not supplied as part of a contractor’s package.
- Get quotes: SEAI recommends contacting at least three assessors. The quote should include VAT and expenses and any business interests.
- Prepare your paperwork: your MPRN and Eircode, proof of the year the home was built, and receipts or certificates for any upgrades. Without evidence, the assessor must use cautious default values, which can give a lower rating.
- Give clear access: the assessor needs to see the attic, heating system and controls, hot press, windows, doors and meters.
- Finish any upgrades first: works should be done before the survey so the BER reflects them.
BERs and home energy grants
Most SEAI individual grants need a post-works BER before the grant is paid, and SEAI pays a €50 grant towards it. Your BER also decides some grant rules:
- The heat pump grant uses the Heat Loss Indicator (HLI) in your BER. Homes built before 2007 with an HLI of 2.3 or lower can skip the technical assessment.
- The windows and doors grant needs attic and walls rated Good or Very Good, or an HLI of 2.3 or lower after the work.
- A One Stop Shop upgrade must reach at least a B after the work.
- The Warmer Homes Scheme arranges a free BER for you if you don’t have one.
Free help on WhatsApp
Ask us about your home.
Tell us about your home and what you want to improve. We explain what may apply, help with the paperwork and, if you want, arrange a callback from a registered contractor where we have a partner in your area.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a BER valid?
10 years from the date it was issued, unless the home changes significantly. Certificates issued before the new scale in May 2026 stay valid for their full 10 years.
What happened to B1, B2 and B3?
From 24 May 2026 the BER scale was simplified to A0, A, B, C, D, E, F and G. The number sub-categories were removed, and A0 was added for the most efficient homes that use no fossil fuels.
How much does a BER cost?
Each assessor sets their own price, depending on the size and type of home. SEAI recommends asking at least three assessors for a quote that includes VAT and expenses. For grant work, SEAI pays €50 towards the post-works BER.
Do I need a BER to sell or rent my home?
Yes. A BER is compulsory for homes offered for sale or rent, including when a rental contract is renewed.
What is the advisory report?
A report that comes with your BER. It lists the upgrades that would improve your home’s rating and rates parts of the home, such as the attic and walls. It is useful for planning grants.
Can HomeGrants help me with my BER?
Yes. We can show you how to find your MPRN and your report, and if you send us your advisory report on WhatsApp we will explain the key figures and which grants they point to.
Related guides
Sources and review
We checked this guide against the official pages below on 25 September 2026. Grant rules change, so the official source always has the final word.