How to pay for the work
The grant is a refund, not a discount. On the individual route you pay the contractor first and SEAI pays you back afterwards, which is the part that stops most upgrades before they start. There are three ways round it.
Pay the builder, then claim the grant back
The cheapest way to do it, if you can cover the bill until the grant arrives.
- Cost of the work
- Lowest. You pay each contractor directly at their own price.
- Cash you need first
- You pay the contractor the full price of the job. SEAI then refunds you the grant, not the whole bill, 4 to 6 weeks after the paperwork.
- Who runs the job
- You. You get the quotes, apply for the grant, book the BER and send in the forms.
- Best for
- One or two measures, if you can cover the full bill until the grant lands.
The catch. You must have grant approval before any work starts, and the grant only arrives after a post-works BER and correctly completed forms.
Borrow it at a reduced rate
The same route as paying upfront, with the state-backed loan covering the float.
- Cost of the work
- Lowest, plus interest. The works are priced exactly as above.
- Cash you need first
- None of your own. The loan covers the contractor, and SEAI still refunds the grant to you afterwards, which you can put against the loan.
- Who runs the job
- You, exactly as above, plus a loan application to a bank or credit union.
- Best for
- Several measures at once, because of the 20% rule.
The catch. The works must be projected to improve the BER by at least 20%, so one attic job will not qualify. Rates vary by lender and the scheme runs to 31 December 2026.
Have a One Stop Shop handle it
Somebody else carries the money, the coordination and the paperwork.
- Cost of the work
- Highest. They take a margin for project managing the job and fronting the grant.
- Cash you need first
- None. The grant is deducted from the price before you are billed.
- Who runs the job
- They do. They survey, apply, appoint the trades and handle both BERs.
- Best for
- A whole-house upgrade, and anyone who would rather pay to not manage it.
The catch. It targets a B2 rating, so it is not a route to one or two measures. You are choosing one company for everything rather than picking each trade.
A One Stop Shop is the dearest of the three, and that is the trade
SEAI does not publish a comparison, and neither does anyone selling the service. A One Stop Shop is fronting the grant, coordinating every trade and carrying the risk that the paperwork is rejected, and the price reflects it. That can be the right thing to buy. It is not the same thing as the grant covering more.
The Home Energy Upgrade Loan, and the rule that decides it
A state-backed loan run by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, at rates below the standard market. It is the option most people have never heard of, and the one most often described wrongly.
- Amount
- €5,000 to €75,000
- Per property, unsecured, no charge over the house.
- Term
- 1 to 10 years
- Up to €225,000 across three properties.
- The condition that matters
- 20% BER improvement
- The works must be projected to improve the rating by at least this much, which one measure on its own rarely does.
- Available until
- 31 December 2026
- Unless the fund is fully allocated before then.
You do not need a One Stop Shop to get this loan
The SBCI lists three eligible ways of doing the works: a registered One Stop Shop, a Community Project Coordinator, or individual Better Energy Homes upgrades you manage yourself. Several participating credit unions describe it on their own pages as being for One Stop Shop customers only, so ask the specific lender rather than assuming. The gate that applies to everyone is the 20% improvement, not the route.
Banks offering it
- AIB
- Bank of Ireland
- An Post Money
- Permanent TSB
Credit unions offering it
- Clonmel
- Connect
- First South
- Listowel
- Naomh Breandan
- North Midlands
- Progressive
Loan interest rates vary between participating finance providers but are reduced from standard rates. We do not publish a rate here because there is no single rate to publish, and comparing two lenders is worth more than any figure this page could carry.
There is a fourth answer, and it costs nothing
If the home was built and occupied before 2006 and anyone living there receives one of seven qualifying welfare payments, the Warmer Homes Scheme upgrades it free, with no contribution at all. Age is not one of the criteria and the State Pension is not one of the seven payments, which is the most common reason people rule themselves out wrongly.
Common questions
Do I have to pay for the work before the grant is paid?
On the individual grant route, yes. You pay your contractor and SEAI refunds you 4 to 6 weeks after you submit correct paperwork, including a post-works BER. The two ways around it are a Home Energy Upgrade Loan, or a One Stop Shop, which deducts the grant from the price before billing you.
Is a One Stop Shop more expensive?
Generally yes. A One Stop Shop project manages the whole job, fronts the grant and carries the paperwork risk, and it takes a margin for doing so. What you are buying is not having to manage it, and not having to find the money first. Managing it yourself with your own registered contractors is the cheaper route if you can carry the cost.
Can I get the Home Energy Upgrade Loan without using a One Stop Shop?
Yes. The SBCI, which operates the scheme, lists individual Better Energy Homes upgrades that you manage yourself as eligible, alongside One Stop Shops and Community Project Coordinators. Some participating credit unions describe the loan as One Stop Shop only on their own pages, so check with the specific lender. The condition that matters is that the works are projected to improve the BER by at least 20%.
Which credit unions offer the Home Energy Upgrade Loan?
Seven at the time of writing: Clonmel, Connect, First South, Listowel, Naomh Breandan, North Midlands, Progressive. The scheme also runs through AIB, Bank of Ireland, An Post Money, Permanent TSB. Rates are not published centrally and differ between providers, so compare more than one.
How much can I borrow, and for how long?
Between €5,000 and €75,000 per property, unsecured, over 1 to 10 years. A borrower can take up to €225,000 across a maximum of three properties. The scheme runs to 31 December 2026 unless the fund is fully allocated first.
What if I cannot afford any of it?
If your home was built and occupied before 2006 and someone living there receives one of seven qualifying welfare payments, the Warmer Homes Scheme upgrades it for free with no contribution at all. Age is not a criterion and the State Pension is not one of the seven payments.
Work out what this house can claim first
The route only matters once you know the number. The checker takes about two minutes and tells you which measures this house is actually eligible for, which is not the same as the list of grants that exist.
Check my house →Loan facts read from the SBCI and SEAI on 20 August 2026. Grant process facts come from SEAI's own guidance. Qualified.ie is not a lender, not a broker and not affiliated with SEAI, the SBCI or any finance provider, and takes no commission on any loan.