Things are getting better, at last, for renters. Your landlord is now legally obliged to supply you with a new BER (Building Energy Rating) Certificate for your home.
The BER Certificate is a review of the energy performance of a property. On a scale of A-G, an ... A-rated property is the most energy efficient and G the least efficient.
The BER Certificate is more than just another piece of paperwork. It"s a great bargaining tool. Because you can use it to find out what the energy costs on different rental properties will be, and haggle accordingly. If, for example, you see a place you like, but the BER Cert shows a poor energy rating, you can negotiate with the landlord to get the rent down on the grounds that you"re going to have to live with a high ESB bill.
Remember that the landlord is unlikely to produce the BER cert without a bit of persuasion. So make sure you ask for it! Since January 1st, you"re legally entitled to see it before you rent.
