Chapter 2 of 10 · Schemes and grants · 6 of 14
SEAI grants for home buyers and new owners
Checked 21 Oct 2026the Central Bank's mortgage measures, Revenue's rules and the scheme operators' published terms.
SEAI grants you can claim after buying: insulation, heat pumps, solar, windows and the one-stop shop, with first-time buyer bonuses.
Check before you hire: a ber assessor should be on the register kept by SEAI. SEAI: register of BER assessors
Written in plain English for the person buying, selling or switching. This guide covers the Republic of Ireland only.
Once you own a home, SEAI grants can pay part of the cost of making it warmer and less costly to run. SEAI is the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, the State body for energy. The grants cover insulation, heating, solar panels and windows.
This guide explains which grants exist, the BER before and after, the one-stop shop route, and how the grants fit with the vacant property grant. It does not give amounts: SEAI publishes the figure for each measure on its site, and they change from time to time. The cost of buying calculator helps you add planned works to the cash you need.
Who the grants are for
The grants are for homeowners. There is no separate first-time buyer grant from SEAI. A first-time buyer qualifies as soon as the sale closes and they own the home.
The home must have been built and occupied before a date SEAI sets for each measure. For most measures that is 2011. For heat pumps and some others, a later date applies. Check SEAI's page for the measure you want.
The grants are not means-tested. Your income does not matter. The home and the work do.
The measures the grants cover
| Measure | What it is |
|---|---|
| Attic insulation | Insulation laid in the roof space to cut heat loss through the roof |
| Wall insulation | Cavity fill, internal dry-lining or external cladding, depending on the wall |
| Heat pump | An electric heating system that takes heat from the air or the ground |
| Solar panels | Panels on the roof that make electricity (solar PV) or hot water (solar thermal) |
| Windows and doors | New energy-efficient windows and external doors |
| Heating controls | Thermostats and zoning so you heat only the rooms you use |
| Heat pump technical assessment | A check that the home is ready for a heat pump |
| BER | The energy rating certificate after the work |
The amounts differ by measure and by the type of home: a detached house gets more for wall insulation than an apartment, because there is more wall. SEAI's page carries the current table.
Two ways to claim
Individual grants. You pick the measures, choose a contractor from SEAI's registered list, apply online before the work starts, and claim after it is done. You manage the project yourself. This suits one or two measures.
The one-stop shop. A registered one-stop shop company plans a full retrofit, does all the work and claims the grants for you. The grant is taken off the price you pay. This route aims to bring the home to a BER of B2 or better. It suits a whole-house job.
The one-stop shop route needs a home energy assessment first. The assessor looks at the home and sets out the works needed to reach the target rating.
The BER before and after
A BER is a Building Energy Rating. It grades a home from A1, the highest, to G, the lowest. Every home sold or let needs one, so the home you bought came with a BER. It is valid for ten years.
After the works, a new BER shows the improvement. For most individual grants, the new BER is part of the grant and is paid for within it. A BER assessor (on SEAI's register) issues it. A BER on its own costs about €225 to €400.
A better BER matters for more than comfort:
- Most green mortgage rates need a BER of B3 or better. The green mortgage rates page lists them.
- A BER appears in every advertisement when you sell, and buyers read it.
The steps for an individual grant
- Check the measure and the home's build date against SEAI's rules.
- Get quotes from contractors on SEAI's registered list. Only a registered contractor's work qualifies.
- Apply online to SEAI before any work starts. Work done before approval is not paid.
- Get the grant offer. It has a time limit for the work.
- Have the work done.
- The contractor and you sign the declaration of works.
- A BER assessor issues the new BER where one is required.
- Send the claim to SEAI. SEAI pays the grant into your bank account.
Keep every invoice. SEAI inspects a share of grant-aided homes.
The steps for the one-stop shop
- Choose a registered one-stop shop from SEAI's list.
- The company does a home energy assessment and proposes a package of works.
- You agree the works and the price, with the grants already taken off.
- The company applies to SEAI on your behalf.
- The works are done, usually over several weeks.
- The company arranges the final BER and the claim.
Because the grant is taken off the price, you do not have to find the full cost and wait for the money back. The company gets the grant from SEAI.
A worked example in outline
Niall buys a 1970s semi-detached house with a BER of E1. He plans attic insulation, external wall insulation, new windows and a heat pump. He takes the one-stop shop route.
The company assesses the home and proposes works to reach B2. The price is quoted with the SEAI grants taken off. Niall pays the net figure. At the end, a BER assessor issues a B2 certificate.
The B2 rating means the home now qualifies for green mortgage rates, which require B3 or better. If Niall's fixed rate ends later, that opens the green rates to him. The amounts for each grant are on SEAI's site, and Niall's quote shows them line by line.
Paying for your share
The grants cover part of the cost. People fund the rest with:
- Savings.
- A green top-up or home improvement loan from their mortgage lender.
- A low-cost retrofit loan backed by the State, where their bank or credit union offers one.
- A credit union or bank personal loan.
A mortgage top-up needs a valuation and the lender's approval, and adds to the mortgage for its full term. A personal loan is shorter and often dearer. The mortgage repayment calculator shows what each adds to the monthly figure.
Combining with the vacant property grant
If you bought an empty home built before 2008, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant can pay up to €50,000 towards the works, plus €20,000 if the home is derelict. SEAI grants can be claimed alongside for the energy works.
The same cost is never paid twice. The SEAI grant is taken off the energy items first, and the vacant grant is worked out on what is left. Tell both the council and SEAI about each other's grant when you apply.
Planning the works before you buy
If you are buying an older home, get a survey from an engineer or building surveyor (Engineers Ireland or the SCSI) before you sign. The survey tells you the state of the roof, walls and heating. That tells you which SEAI measures the home needs, and roughly what your share would cost. The first-time buyer grants guide lists the other supports.
Where this leaves you
Add the works you plan to your closing figures on the cost of buying calculator, then check SEAI's site for the current grant on each measure. The first-time buyer journey shows where the works fit after closing. For the BER after the work, get quotes from a BER assessor.
Questions people ask
What SEAI grants are available in 2026?
Grants for attic and wall insulation, heat pumps, solar panels, windows and doors, heating controls and a full one-stop shop retrofit. SEAI publishes the amount for each measure on its site, and the amounts change from time to time.
Can I get SEAI grants on a house I just bought?
Yes, as long as the home was built and occupied before the date SEAI sets for the measure, and you own it. Most grants need the home to have been built before 2011. The grant is paid after the work is done by an SEAI-registered contractor.
Is there an SEAI grant for first-time buyers?
There is no separate first-time buyer grant from SEAI. The grants are for homeowners, and a first-time buyer qualifies as soon as they own the home. The Help to Buy and First Home Scheme supports are separate.
Do I need a BER to get an SEAI grant?
For most grants, a BER is required after the work is done, and it is part of the grant process. For the one-stop shop, an assessment before the work sets the plan. A BER assessor on SEAI's register issues the certificate.
Can I use the vacant property grant and SEAI grants together?
Yes. The SEAI grant is taken off the energy items first, and the vacant property grant covers the rest of the works. The same cost is never paid twice.