Grant Advice - ROI

Better Energy Homes Scheme

The Better Energy Homes Scheme provides grants to homeowners to improve energy efficiency in their homes. Landlords and owners of more than one property can also apply for a grant under the scheme. It is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
 

Grants are available for the following energy-saving work:

  • Roof insulation
  • Wall insulation - for example, cavity wall, internal dry lining or external insulation
  • Heating controls upgrade
  • Installation of a high-efficiency boiler (more than 90% efficiency) including a heating controls upgrade
  • A Building Energy Rating (BER) after the energy-saving work is carried out (you must get this BER to qualify for the grant)
  • Solar heating


You must have grant approval before you buy materials or start any grant-funded energy-saving work. If you have already started work, you will not be eligible for a grant. The grant approval remains valid for 6 months after the date it is issued.

However, a before BER can be done ahead of grant approval and could prove useful if you are uncertain about your energy-saving options or what to get done first.

To qualify for a grant you must:


You may not get a grant if:

  • You are replacing your existing boiler with a typical efficiency boiler of less than 90% efficiency
  • You replace your boiler but do not replace the heating controls
  • The measures do not comply with the required standards
  • The relevant measure (the work on your home) was already incentivised under another grant programme

For more information on this scheme, please visit Citizen's Information page.


Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme

The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people on low incomes. It is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and replaces the earlier Warmer Homes Scheme.
 

The work funded under the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme includes:

  • Attic insulation
  • Draught-proofing
  • Lagging jackets
  • Low-energy light bulbs
  • Cavity wall insulation
  • Energy advice.


The services are provided by a panel of non-profit community-based organisations and a panel of private contractors. Both panels are appointed by SEAI. A surveyor calls to your home to confirm that you are eligible and assess the amount of work needed. The work is then done by an installer, if budget is available. Inspections are carried out on a sample of homes completed to ensure that standards are maintained.

f you are a homeowner (or purchasing your home):

Your home must have been built before 2006 and you must be getting one of the following payments:

If you are in private rented accommodation and at risk of energy poverty, your landlord may be able to get a grant under the separate Better Energy Homes Scheme.

For more information on this scheme, please visit Citizen's Information page.
 

The Home Renovation Incentive scheme 

The Home Renovation Incentive scheme enables homeowners or landlords to claim tax relief on repairs, renovations or improvement work that is carried out on their main home or rental property by tax-compliant contractors and that is subject to 13.5% VAT. It was introduced for homeowners in October 2013 and was extended to landlords in October 2014.

The Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) is paid in the form of a tax credit at 13.5% of qualifying expenditure, which can be set against your income tax over 2 years. This effectively reduces the rate of VAT to zero on qualifying work (up to a value of €30,000).

In general, qualifying work must be done between 25 October 2013 and 31 December 2015 (for homeowners) and between 15 October 2014 and 31 December 2015 (for landlords).

To qualify for the HRI as an owner-occupier, the work must be carried out on your principal private residence. As noted above, landlords can qualify in respect of work done on their rental properties.

Whether you are a homeowner or a landlord, you must be up to date with your obligations under the Local Property Tax and, if applicable, the Household Charge. You must be paying income tax – whether under PAYE or self-assessment – to avail of the HRI.

Any contractor you use must be registered for Value Added Tax (VAT) in Ireland and be tax-compliant. Revenue has published a checklist for contractors. If several contractors, such as a builder, a plumber and an electrician, carry out qualifying work on your home, you can combine the cost of the works to make up the minimum qualifying amount.


For more information on this scheme, please visit Citizen's Information page.
 

How to find out if your home would benefit from energy-saving work

You can use the Home Energy Self Survey to identify areas in your home which could be improved to increase its energy efficiency.

You can also get a Building Energy Rating (BER) done in advance of any works. A BER assessor will energy rate your home and provide you with an advisory report, which will help identify areas that could be improved to increase the energy efficiency of your home.
 

Full details of these schemes, please refer to the SEAI’s website


Source: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/