Friends of the Earth Welcomes Move to Tackle Cold, Damp Rentals with BER Standards Bill

Opposition bill a game-changer for tenants and the climate

Friends of the Earth has today welcomed the introduction of the Building Energy Rating (BER) Standards for Private Rented Accommodation Bill 2025, brought forward by Deputy Paul Murphy TD. Friends of the Earth is calling on all parties to support the bill as it is crucial to ending the scandal of cold, damp, and energy-leaking rental homes - and tackling one of the most persistent barriers to climate action in housing.

“Renters are among the most exposed to energy poverty - and the least empowered to do anything about it,” said Clare O’Connor, Programme Coordinator at Friends of the Earth. “This bill takes aim at the split incentive problem[1] that has left thousands of tenants footing extortionate bills to heat energy-leaking, damp homes-  while landlords face no obligation, and limited guidance, to invest in essential energy upgrades. Similar legislation has been introduced successfully in France and the UK, which has already delivered direct improvements in housing conditions for renters.”

Under the proposed legislation, a minimum BER [2] standard would be introduced for private rented homes from 2026, aligning with long-standing commitments in the Government’s Housing for All plan[3] and Ireland’s climate targets. Currently, over 55% of private rentals have a BER of D or worse,[4] with 20% rated F or G. 

Friends of the Earth welcomes the bill as a significant first step in addressing energy poverty in the rental sector. Introducing minimum BER standards for rental properties addresses a critical barrier to decarbonising the housing sector and improving living conditions. To ensure tenants are supported and protected, Friends of the Earth is also calling on the government to support the bill’s implementation by by:

• Developing strong tenant protections against rent hikes and evictions when renovations take place, and introducing tailored supports to ensure landlords can upgrade homes with tenants in-situ.
• Setting out a clear implementation timeline, and a plan for effective enforcement of new regulations.

“We can’t afford to leave renters behind in the energy transition,” Aaron Downey, Campaign Lead at Friends of the Earth, said. “A poorly insulated home is like a leaky sieve and renters are throwing money away to keep their homes warm. This bill is timely, necessary, and absolutely doable. It also gives the Government a concrete way to deliver on its own commitments in Housing for All and the Climate Action Plan. We urge all Oireachtas members to support it.”

ENDS

Notes to editor:

1. The “split incentive” refers to the lack of incentive for landlords to invest in energy efficiency upgrades when tenants pay the energy bills.
2. BER = Building Energy Rating. The scale ranges from A1 (most efficient) to G (least efficient). More info from the SEAI.
3. Ireland’s Housing for All plan committed to introducing minimum BER standards for rental properties from 2025, where feasible.
4. Irish Green Building Council Introducing Minimum Energy Efficiency Performance Standards In The Rental Sector report