Home Energy Scheme

Loans are available for applicants who meet the eligibility criteria for the scheme and are
investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades where those works are being
funded by a grant from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

Loans must be used to upgrade the energy efficiency and decarbonisation of qualifying
residential properties.
Loans to support the installation of solar PV panels are not eligible under the scheme on a
standalone basis. However, solar PV panels are eligible for funding and can be installed as part
of a deeper retrofit (alongside other upgrade works) under the National Home Energy Upgrade
Scheme (One Stop Shop Service) or Community Energy Grant Scheme.

There is a two-step process to apply for a loan under the scheme:
STEP 1 – Contact a SEAI Registered One Stop Shop or Community Project Co-ordinator to
plan your home energy upgrade. They will:
• advise on the options for energy upgrades that are suitable for your home,
• give guidance on what financial supports are available, including SEAI grants and the
Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme, and
• provide a Home Energy Summary Report for qualifying energy upgrades. You will need
this document to apply for the loan.
You will need a valid Building Energy Rating (BER) on your home. A One Stop Shop or
Community Project Co-ordinator can tell you if your planned works are expected to improve
the BER by a minimum of 20%, which is required for the loan. Check the BER register to see if
there is a valid BER on your home.
You must spend at least 75% of the loan amount on energy upgrades (the cost of the energy
upgrades under qualifying SEAI grant schemes, net of the SEAI grant amount).
STEP 2 – Apply for a low-cost loan with one of the finance providers participating in the
scheme.
You will need a Home Energy Summary Report signed by a One Stop Shop or Community
Project Co-ordinator to apply, as it confirms the details of your planned energy upgrade works
and the expected SEAI grants.
Please note – It is only at this stage that the participating finance provider will make a
decision on credit approval. Approval of finance is subject to the credit criteria, policies
and procedures of the participating finance providers.

Loans range from a minimum of €5,000 up to a maximum of €75,000 per property. If an
applicant is looking to borrow for more than one property (maximum 3 properties), the
maximum total amount is set at €225,000 per borrower

Loan terms range from a minimum of one year up to a maximum of 10 years.

Loan interest rates vary between participating finance providers but are reduced from standard
rates.

No. Under the scheme, no security or personal guarantee is required.

Loans to support the installation of solar PV panels are not eligible under the scheme on a
standalone basis. However, solar PV panels are eligible for funding and can be installed as part
of a deeper retrofit (alongside other upgrade works) under the National Home Energy Upgrade
Scheme (One Stop Shop Service) or Community Energy Grant Scheme.
Other eligible measures for Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme loans include the fabric
upgrade of buildings (such as insulation) and renewable energy solutions (such as heat
pumps).
Where a homeowner is using the loan to pay for works under the SEAI’s Better Energy Homes
Scheme for Individual Energy Upgrade Grants, up to 25% of the amount borrowed can be used
for other non-eligible home upgrades, which may include solar PV panels.

The Home Energy Summary Report is a one-page document confirming the details of the
planned energy upgrade works.
To get a Home Energy Summary Report, you must contact a SEAI Registered One Stop Shop
or Community Project Co-Ordinator to plan your upgrades and get a quotation. You will need
a valid Building Energy Rating (BER) on your home so that the One Stop Shop or Community
Project Co-ordinator can calculate the expected improvement in the BER (energy performance)
and complete the Home Energy Summary Report. Check the BER register to see if there is a
valid BER on your home.
The Home Energy Summary Report includes information on the property, such as the Meter
Point Reference Number (MPRN) and the proposed upgrades, including the calculated uplift
in energy performance and the total proposed costs of the project.
This report must be given to a participating finance provider in order to apply for the Home
Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme.

No. There is no charge for the Home Energy Summary Report.
To apply for the loan, you will need a Home Energy Summary Report signed by a One Stop
Shop or Community Project Co-ordinator as it confirms the details of your planned energy
upgrade works. To get a Home Energy Summary Report, contact a SEAI Registered One Stop
Shop or Community Project Co-Ordinator to plan your upgrades and get a quotation.
You will also need a valid Building Energy Rating (BER) on your home so that the One Stop
Shop or Community Project Co-ordinator can calculate the expected improvement in the BER
(energy performance) and fill in the Home Energy Summary Report. Check the BER register to
see if there is a valid BER on your home.
If you do not have a valid BER certificate, you will need to pay for a BER assessment by a
registered BER assessor. The cost may vary depending on the energy assessor and the size of
your home.
The only document relevant for the loan application is the Home Energy Summary Report

Please note - The Home Energy Summary Report is not a guarantee of credit approval.  Approval of loans under the Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme is subject to the finance providers' own credit criteria, policies and procedures.

Yes. You can get more than one loan, provided that the total of those loans does not exceed
the maximum loan amount available to you under the scheme (maximum loan of €75,000 per
property, maximum aggregate loan of €225,000 per borrower – 3 properties maximum).

No. All properties upgraded must be located in the Republic of Ireland.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) will confirm the home energy upgrade
works supported by the Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme and will work with all parties
concerned to minimise the administrative burden on homeowners applying for both loans and
SEAI grants.