A group representing landlords has said their members are too poor to retrofit their rental properties. 

As part of the 2021 Climate Action Plan, the Government set a target of retrofitting 500,000 homes to improve their building energy rating (BER) rating to a B2 standard or above. 

The result would be warmer homes, lower bills and fewer carbon emissions. 

However, a new report by the ESRI estimates that only 20% of rental homes have a B2 rating and that the cost of retrofitting these properties would be as much as €8 billion. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Mary Conway, Chairperson of the Irish Property Owners Association said there is currently little incentive for landlords to retrofit their rental properties. 

“The landlord will have to pay for it and the tenants will get the benefit,” she said. 

“We know that a lot of tenants in social housing have had their older properties retrofitted by the councils and it’s cost a significant amount of money. 

“We’re just asking where are landlords going to get the money and what happens to tenants when the retrofitting is being carried out?”

A man adjusting a radiator. Picture by: Artem Evdokimov / Alamy

Ms Conway described €8 billion as a “scary amount of money” and said rental properties have higher BER ratings than those that are owner occupied.  

“According to the CSO data, 8.9% of RTB registered properties have a BER of F or G - compared to 15% of Irish owner occupier homes,” she said. 

“So, actually, landlords are probably a bit ahead of the curve than ordinary householders. 

“At this point, we know that one-in-eight landlords have a total income - including their wages and their rental income - of €50,000 a year. 

“So, if you have to find €20, €30, €40,000 to do a retrofitting upgrade for your tenants, it’s not going to happen because you don’t have the money.”

An electricity bill. Picture by: Rosemary Roberts / Alamy Stock Photo

Landlords are entitled to State grants if they use contractors registered with from the Sustainable Energy Authority Of Ireland. 

They are also entitled to a tax deduction of €10,000 but Ms Conway said further financial incentives are needed. 

“If the Government are serious about it, they would need to put some sort of a scheme in place for landlords - some kind of an interest free loan,” she said. 

“But at the end of the day, landlords are being asked to shoulder the burden of costly retrofitting measures without meaningful support from the Government.” 

According to a report by Daft.ie last summer, rents nationwide increased 7% between 2023 and 2024.

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Main image: A female tenant in her home. Picture by: Alamy.com