BER SCHEME FOLLOW UP
Following on from the article in our recent Commercial Property supplement on the new BER Scheme, we have an update for you on the application of the scheme for older dwellings.
From 1st January 2009, if you are selling or granting a lease of an “older” dwelling, you will have to provide the purchaser or tenant with a BER certificate showing the property’s energy efficiency rating. Whilst the Scheme applies to both new and old dwellings, Sustainable Energy Ireland (“SEI” ) have not yet compiled a list of assessors for certifying older dwellings. Each assessor will be registered to assess a new dwelling or an older dwelling or both. SEI are currently considering the qualifications required to assess older dwellings. There is a list of assessors for new dwellings available on the SEI website, but at the time of writing this article, no list of assessors has been made available for older dwellings.
For landlords of residential properties, SEI have advised that you will only need to produce a BER certificate when you grant a new lease in 2009. Therefore current leases will not be affected.
If you require any further information on the BER scheme, please visit the SEI website www.sei.ie or contact a member of our Property and Private Client department.
Gráinne Macdougald
Associate solicitor
gmacdougald@hayes-solicitors.ie