If I am going to rent out my property do I need a BER Cert?
If I am going to rent out my property do I need a BER Cert?
A: Yes - Building Energy Rating Certificates or (BER) as they have become widely known are a requirement introduced in Ireland by the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006. A Building Energy Rating for a property is similar to the energy rating that you receive when you purchase an electrical appliance like a fridge or freezer. The Energy Rating Certificate demonstrates the energy efficiency that the product is operating at.
As of the 1st of January 2009 a BER certificate became compulsory for all homes or commercial premises being sold or rented barring those which are exempt), those buildings that are exempt include national monuments, protected structures and churches.
According to Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), a BER certificate will make the energy performance of the building visible and will allow buyers and tenants to take energy performance into consideration when deciding to buy or rent a building.
The responsibility to obtain a BER Certificate is on the owner of the property and must be done prior to it being marketed for sale or letting. The law requires that certificates be available before marketing commences so that intending purchasers or tenants can be advised of the property’s energy rating. BER Assessors are people who are qualified to undertake an energy rating assessment of your property. The Sustainable Energy Ireland website www.sei.ie has a full list of assessors both locally and nationally. Once the assessment has been undertaken the assessor will issue the necessary certificate with the property’s rating and log the information with SEI.
A Building Energy Rating certificate will be valid for 10 years from the date of it being issued, unless there is a material change in the building within that period of time. Fines of up to €5,000 can be enforced if failing to comply with the law, but most importantly the sale or letting of the premises can be delayed as a result.
As the system gains momentum reductions in both sales and rental values for both residential and commercial properties could be likely should the particular property being assessed have a poor BER rating.
