New energy rating cert will cost house-sellers up to €500 (23/10/08)
October 23, 2008 at 2:02 pm Leave a comment
New building regulations coming into force next January will mean anyone selling or renting residential property will have to provide a Building Energy Rating (BER) cert for each home. The scheme is part of an EU directive aimed at improving energy efficiency, and will be overseen by Sustainable Energy Ireland. A spokesperson for the state agency said that a BER assessment will cost an average of between €300 to €500, depending on the location, size and age of the property.
Under the new system, the energy performance of each property for sale or rent will be ranked on a scale of A to G, and the associated CO2 emissions will be measured. Owners will also be advised how to improve the energy efficiency of their property. A BER certificate will be valid for ten years, if there is no building work carried out in the meantime.
Over 800 experts have already been registered to carry out BER assessments, so homeowners are advised to shop around for the best price. Failure to comply with the regulation could lead to a three-month jail term or a fine of up to €5,000.
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