Councillor seeks clarification from SEAI on pre‑works BER guidance for DCB homes

Councillor Joy Beard has asked the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for urgent clarification after receiving advice on pre‑works Building Energy Certificates (BERs) that appears to conflict with the guidance on its website.

Beard, a councillor for the 100% Redress Party, notes that the SEAI’s published guidance states that “for DCB affected homes, pre‑works BERs are not required for SEAI grants” and that a post‑works BER is needed before a grant payment can be reviewed.

However, after speaking with SEAI, Beard was told that while a pre‑works BER is not technically required, the lack of one could cause issues within the SEAI system and a One Stop Shop may require it to progress an application, especially for homes that are still standing or where works are ongoing.

Beard urges homeowners with standing houses to check with their One Stop Shop, BER assessor or the body handling their SEAI application before demolition, to avoid unexpected complications.

She also confirms that homeowners whose houses have already been demolished do not need to obtain a pre‑works BER, as advised by SEAI, and calls for the discrepancy to be resolved in writing.

Source: Donegal Daily. Photo: Zulfugar Karimov / Pexels.