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Warmer Homes Scheme

Free of charge. The upgrades are fully funded for eligible households, you pay nothing.

Last checked October 2026

What it is

Free energy upgrades for homeowners on certain welfare payments, in homes built and occupied before 2006. The wait is long. SEAI says a contractor currently contacts you about 15 months after you apply. In the meantime, if you're on a qualifying welfare payment you can apply for higher individual attic and wall insulation grants with your own SEAI registered contractor, without losing your place on Warmer Homes. You pay the contractor first and SEAI refunds the grant.

Who can get it

You own and live in the home as your main residence
The home was built and lived in before 2006
You receive one of these: Fuel Allowance, Working Family Payment, One-Parent Family Payment, Domiciliary Care Allowance, Carer's Allowance (living with the person you care for), Jobseeker's Allowance for over six months with a child under seven, or Disability Allowance for over six months with a child under seven
A surveyor finds your home suitable for the works (some homes do not qualify) and you are not planning a significant refurbishment by someone else

Good to know

On 29 September 2026 the Government announced that fully funded solar panels (up to 4kWp) and a 5kWh battery would be offered as standard under Warmer Homes from 6 October 2026, subject to final implementation arrangements. As at 29 October 2026, SEAI's Warmer Homes page and scheme guidelines still do not list them. SEAI has not published who gets them or how it works for homes already on the waiting list. You may not have to wait to get solar. If you receive a qualifying payment you can arrange your own contractor and apply for SEAI's enhanced solar and battery grant of up to €9,000 for homes built before 2025. The Minister says the grant is set at 100% of the median cost. You pay the contractor first and SEAI pays the grant once the work is done, so you cover any cost above the grant. The Minister said on 13 October 2026 that this includes homeowners who have already had a Warmer Homes upgrade.
An SEAI surveyor chooses the upgrades and you cannot ask for specific ones. They may include attic, cavity, external or internal wall insulation, draught proofing, lagging jackets, efficient lighting, ventilation where walls or the attic are being insulated and heating controls as part of a heating upgrade. Renewable heating systems and windows are occasionally recommended. Windows are only replaced when they are single-glazed and done as part of wall insulation work. The scheme does not install or replace oil or gas boilers. A heat pump is only offered to homes with low heat loss. SEAI arranges a free BER before and after the works.
From 2026, if you're on a qualifying welfare payment, you can also apply for higher individual grants for attic insulation (up to €2,500) and cavity wall insulation (up to €2,300 for a detached house, less for smaller homes). These cover homes built and occupied before 2011, so a home built from 2006 to 2010 can get them even though it is too new for Warmer Homes. A home cannot get a second grant for the same measure. After a cavity wall grant you can apply for internal or external wall insulation. After an internal wall grant you can apply for external only. Wall insulation needs all your external walls insulated. You choose your own SEAI registered contractor and it does not affect your place on Warmer Homes for other upgrades. You pay the contractor and SEAI pays the grant to you once the works are completed. Warmer Homes itself is free with nothing to pay.
There is a long waiting list for the full scheme. SEAI says you can currently expect a contractor to contact you about 15 months after you apply. Applications are processed in the order received and you cannot move ahead in the queue, though SEAI says the scheme prioritises homes built before 1993 with a low BER (E, F or G). Once a contractor is assigned you cannot change it.
Had upgrades before? SEAI says sometimes you can still apply, but if you had work done on or after 1 July 2018 you are usually not eligible now.
Wall insulation is not usually done on homes built before 1940 or stone homes, though you may still qualify for other upgrades. Only one type of insulation is done on each wall. The scheme does not cover repairs, structural issues, painting or finishing.
What you need to apply: your MPRN and one proof of ownership issued within the last 12 months, such as a mortgage statement, home insurance policy, title deeds, a solicitor's letter or a Local Property Tax letter together with a utility bill from the last 6 months. If you apply on Jobseeker's Allowance or Disability Allowance you also need the birth certificate of your child under seven. If you apply on Carer's Allowance there is a confirmation form to fill in. Apartments need an Apartment Consent form. You can apply by post, but it is slower.
If you're newly on a qualifying welfare payment, wait 5 to 6 weeks after your first payment before applying.
The Household Benefits Package on its own does not qualify you. You need one of the payments listed above.
SEAI says the scheme does not insulate where there is a dormer or attic conversion.
Apply directly to SEAI. If you live in an apartment, you need your management company's permission first.
Questions: the SEAI Warmer Homes team on 01 808 2005 or warmerhomes@seai.ie.

How to apply

Applications go through SEAI. The official page has the full eligibility rules and the application itself.

Go to the official page →

Checked against the official source on 20 October 2026. Always confirm the details on the official page before applying.

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