What "SEAI registered" means, and what it does not
Registration is the condition of your grant being paid. It is not a promise that the work will be good, and SEAI is clear about that.
“We do not provide a guarantee, warranty or approve a company’s or the contractor’s works. Any dispute must be resolved between the homeowner and contractor.”
That sentence is worth reading twice, because it is the opposite of how the phrase is usually sold. Registration gets the money paid. Whether the contractor turns up, does a clean job and answers the phone in two years is a separate question, and one you still have to ask yourself.
The four things SEAI checks
This is the whole of it. There is no assessment of workmanship before a business goes on the register, though a percentage of completed jobs are inspected afterwards.
- SEAI’s technical standards and code of practice
- The work has a published standard to meet, and a percentage of jobs are inspected against it.
- Tax compliance
- The business is tax compliant at the point of registration.
- Insurance cover
- Cover is in place. SEAI does not publish the limits, so ask to see the policy.
- A standard contract with the homeowner
- A written contract for all works is a condition of being registered. You are entitled to one.
Registration is per measure, not per business
The mistake that voids a claim after the work is done.
A contractor can be legitimately registered and still be the wrong contractor for your job. SEAI: “Ensure your contractor is registered for the type of work that they are carrying out. For example if a contractor is registered for wall insulation only, they can’t be used for grant aided works for roof insulation.”
So “are you SEAI registered?” is not the question. The question is whether they are registered for the specific measure you are having done. That is why every business on this site is listed under the trades it is actually registered for, rather than in one undifferentiated list, and why a profile says which register each entry came from.
Registered businesses on Qualified.ie, by register
Five things to check before you sign anything
- Check they are registered for your measure, not just registered. Our trade pages are built from the register, so a business only appears under work it can actually do under grant.
- Ask for the written contract. A standard contract with the homeowner is one of the four conditions of registration, so you are entitled to one, covering works, prices, timing, payment terms and warranties.
- Ask to see the insurance. SEAI confirms cover exists but does not publish the limits.
- Get more than one quote, and talk to previous customers. SEAI recommends both, and since SEAI will not arbitrate a dispute, this is the part that protects you.
- Only then apply, naming that contractor. Remember the work cannot start until the offer is accepted.
Check a contractor against the register
Every one of the 2,692 businesses here is listed under the measures it is actually registered for, with its registration number on its profile. If you already have a name and a quote, look it up before you sign.
Registration is step one of six. The rest of the process, including the deadline that catches most people out, decides whether the grant is paid at all.
Common questions
What does SEAI registered actually mean?
It means SEAI has checked four things: that the business signs up to SEAI’s technical standards and code of practice, that it is tax compliant, that it holds insurance, and that it uses a standard written contract with homeowners. It is a condition of your grant being paid.
Does SEAI guarantee the work of a registered contractor?
No, and SEAI says so directly: "We do not provide a guarantee, warranty or approve a company’s or the contractor’s works. Any dispute must be resolved between the homeowner and contractor." Registration means the grant will be paid and the paperwork will be valid. Checking whether the contractor is any good is still your job.
Is a contractor registered for all types of work?
No. Registration is per measure. SEAI: "Ensure your contractor is registered for the type of work that they are carrying out. For example if a contractor is registered for wall insulation only, they can’t be used for grant aided works for roof insulation." So a business you found for attic insulation may not be able to do your walls under grant.
What is the difference between SEAI registered and SEAI approved?
"Approved" is not a status SEAI issues, and it implies a quality endorsement SEAI explicitly disclaims. The register is a list of businesses that meet the conditions for grant work. Anybody advertising themselves as SEAI approved is describing registration.
How do I check a contractor is registered?
Every business listed on this site comes from a public SEAI register, refreshed weekly, with its registration number on its profile. There are 2,692 registered contractors, 1,156 BER assessors and 31 One Stop Shops. You can also search SEAI's own register directly.
Can I use my own builder if they are not registered?
You can have the work done by anyone you like, but it will not be grant aided. SEAI only pays where the work was carried out by a contractor registered for that measure, and DIY does not qualify.
Quotes and registration conditions checked against SEAI on 17 August 2026. Listings come from the public SEAI registers and are refreshed weekly. SEAI's own contractor search is the authority. Qualified.ie is not affiliated with SEAI.