Landlords should be forced to bring their properties up to minimum BER energy efficiency rating, the Green Party Deputy Leader has said.

Senator Róisín Garvey is warning that far too many people in Ireland are living in “mouldy conditions” while paying “exorbitant rents.”

Currently, the SEAI recommends that anyone renovating an older home should aim for at least a B2 Building Energy Rating (BER) rating, while all new homes must have a minimum A2 rating.

On Newstalk Breakfast, Senator Garvey said there are grants available to help landlords bring their properties up to standard – and she has personal experience of the benefits that can bring.

“I was living in a house with my son, and we needed at least €200 to get oil delivered,” she said.

“There were times when I didn’t have that, and I couldn’t afford briquettes, so we ended up sleeping in the sitting room.

“I found out about grants myself and informed the landlord, who then installed attic insulation and filled the cavity walls.

“After that, I never had to sleep in the sitting room again.”

'Exorbitant rents'

Senator Garvey said it’s a life experience that has stayed with her.

“I think most landlords are good at maintaining their properties but there are still too many people living in mouldy, damp conditions despite paying exorbitant rents,” she said.

“There are good incentives available; for instance, there’s a tax reduction of up to €10,000 per property for a maximum of two rental properties.

“Before I get criticised for helping the big vulture funds and landlords, this only applies to landlords with two rental properties or fewer.”

A man measures loft insulation to cut down heat loss in a house. Picture by: Global Warming Images / Alamy Stock Photo

She noted that the Green Party has long advocated for a minimum BER rating standard for all homes.

“The current plan is to get all housing stock up to a B2 energy rating by 2030,” she said.

“Substandard, poorly insulated houses have to become a thing of the past for numerous reasons - personal health, the cost of running a home, and meeting our carbon targets.

“There are so many reasons why we need better standards - and the RTB will have to play its part as well.”

BER rating incentives

Senator Garvey highlighted that other upgrade incentives have also recently become available.

“There is a new, very low 3% loan available for amounts between €5,000 and €75,000, backed by the government, that people can access if they need extra funding to do the work,” she said.

“At a minimum, there are still plenty of attics without sufficient insulation and many empty cavity walls that need to be addressed.

“These upgrades are 80% funded, and you can still get your tax reduction. If you can’t afford to do it, how can we expect landlords to manage?”

The average BER rating for homes in Ireland is C.

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Main image: A woman looks at mould on the kitchen wall. Image: Andriy Popov / Alamy Stock Photo