Supports aim to tackle fuel poverty and ease pressure on household budgets while making participation in social housing schemes more attractive
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, has welcomed the new initiative announced by the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment to support energy improvements in homes participating in the Dublin Rental Accommodation Scheme Pilot (RASP), alongside enhanced insulation supports for homes under RAS and the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).
The new SEAI supports could provide combined grants of up to €13,800 for an eligible
property under the Dublin RAS Pilot Scheme comprising:- Up to €9,000 for Solar PV panels and battery storage
- €1,400 to €2,500 for attic insulation
- €900 to €2,300 for cavity wall insulation
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, said:
“I welcome these enhancements to the RAS Pilot Scheme.
“There has already been significant interest from landlords and property owners, and the potential for up to €13,800 in energy improvement grants makes participation even more attractive.
“Critically for tenants, these measures offer lower energy bills, warmer homes and less pressure on their household budget. The insulation supports available across the wider RAS and HAP schemes will extend these benefits to more households. By combining stable, long-term housing with energy improvements, we are helping tackle fuel poverty whilst improving the standard of housing stock available for social housing.”
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien TD, added:
“Although the measures I announced earlier this week will assist businesses and households alike, a particular focus of the SEAI retrofit package of measures is the inclusion of a range of targeted supports for households most exposed to high energy costs. Enhanced supports for households at risk of energy poverty, medically vulnerable customers, lower-income homeowners and renters will help ensure that those who need the support most can also get access to the benefits of lower energy bills. Insulation, Solar PV and battery installations have an immediate positive and long lasting impact on a household’s energy bills and I am delighted that those participating in the Dublin RAS scheme will also get an opportunity to benefit from these upgrades and technologies.”
The attic and cavity wall insulation supports also extend to eligible homes under the wider Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) offering combined insulation grants of up to €4,800 per property.
Together, these measures could deliver annual energy bill savings of up to approximately €1,650 for households participating in the Dublin RAS Pilot Scheme, whilst eligible households under the wider RAS and HAP schemes could save up to approximately €780 through the insulation measures depending on the property and measures installed.
These substantial supports will help landlords and property owners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties whilst delivering lasting benefits for tenants through lower energy bills and warmer, more comfortable homes.
The supports will help tackle fuel poverty and ease pressure on household budgets while making participation in social housing schemes more attractive to property owners.
These supports are in addition to the enhancements already introduced under the Dublin RAS Pilot including:
- Flexibility to pay up to 100% of market rent for participating landlords;
- Agreements of 6 to 8 years, offering greater income certainty;
- Enhanced damage compensation of up to three months’ rent;
- Streamlined processes for onboarding of properties into the scheme;
- Expedited inspections of potential RAS properties; and
- Optional up-front rental payments.
The new energy supports are scheduled to open from 6 October 2026.
Landlords and property owners interested in the Dublin RAS Pilot scheme are encouraged to contact their Dublin local authority.
Those interested in the wider RAS ad HAP insulation supports should consult the SEAI for eligibility and application details.
No comments:
Post a Comment