Domestic BER FAQs |
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A BER cert is compulsory for all homes being sold or rented. The responsibility is on the owner(s) to ensure that a BER certificate is available for the property on point of sale or rental
Q: How do I get a BER Cert?
BER assessments can only be carried out by SEAI registered assessors. Please contact Navitus for further information on 01 443 3951 or info@navitus.ie Navitus contacts page.
Q: How long will it take to get the certificate?
Navitus BER assessors are able to complete the assessment and issue certificates within a few days of visiting the property. We ask for payment for the assessment and certificate on arrival at the property. Please contact us (Navitus contacts page) in advance of the due date for the certificate to ensure that it is ready in time.
Q: How much is a BER?
The cost of the assessment varies according to the size and complexity of the building, as well as the urgency of the certificate and the location of the property.
In the case of Domestic BERs: rooms in roofs and the calculation of u-values for individual building elements, windows or types of insulation will require more time than other properties.
The SEAI registration fee for each Domestic BER is €25. Navitus will include that fee within the charge to the building owner.
Please contact us on 01 443 3951 (Navitus contacts page) for a quotation.
With due warning, Navitus BER assessors can service any area in the country.
We are also able to service and deliver Commercial or Domestic BERs and Display Energy Certificates in Leinster and Connaught within a couple of days.
Please contact us on 01 443 3951 (Navitus contacts page) for a quotation.
Q: What happens if I don’t get a BER?
If you need one and you don’t get one the maximum fine, subject to a conviction in the District Court, is €5000. Failure to get one could delay your completion of the sale or lease
Q: How is the BER calculated?
The calculation includes building fabric, ventilation, space and water heating, and lighting. These values coupled with the building measurements provide the building energy rating.
Q: What happens if my building scores a low BER rating?
Nothing. There is no legal requirement to have an energy efficient house yet, but a low rating may affect the marketability of the house.
Q : How can I improve my BER?
The Building Energy Rating certificate comes with an accompanying advisory report. This report outlines recommendations as to what you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your home. You may then choose to implement some or all of the changes outlined.
Some good ideas before getting the assessment done would be
- Improve the insulation in your attic - Grants available
- Pump insulation in to the wall cavity on older houses - Grants available
- Install a good lagging jacket to your cylinder or replace the cylinder with a factory-insulated cylinder
- Insulate primary pipe work
- Change traditional light bulbs to CFLs
- Upgrade your gas/oil heating system to a high efficiency boiler - Grants available
- Install a renewable energy heating system - SEAI grants are available - Grants available
Q: How long does the BER last?
Ten years. That is assuming no material change to the building is made over that time.
New extension, building refurbishment, new boiler and controls and additional insulation will affect the energy performance of a building and may warrant conducting another BER.
Please contact us on 01 443 3951 (Navitus contacts page) for further advice.
More information
For more information on BERs see SEAI BER FAQs and BER Association Forum