If the grants don’t cover the whole bill for your upgrade, the Home Energy Upgrade Loan is the government-backed way to borrow the rest. The key deadline is close: the SBCI says loans are available until 31 December 2026.
What the loan is for
It helps pay for home energy upgrade works that are also grant-aided by the SEAI. Citizens Information describes it as covering the extra costs “not covered by the grant”, at lower interest rates than a normal personal loan. SEAI says qualifying works include insulation, heat pumps, windows and doors, and ventilation. Solar PV qualified only as part of a complete home upgrade, not on its own, according to its September 2025 page.
Who qualifies
According to the SBCI, you must be:
- An individual (not a company) borrowing for your own benefit and resident in Ireland.
- Receiving an SEAI grant for the upgrade works.
- Using an SEAI registered One Stop Shop or Community Project Co-ordinator to carry out the works. See One Stop Shop vs individual grants.
The property must be residential in the Republic of Ireland and not used for short-term letting, as a holiday home or for mixed commercial use in the previous 12 months.
The 20% BER rule and the 75% rule
Two numbers decide whether a project fits:
- The works must improve your property’s BER by at least 20%.
- At least 75% of the loan must go toward the upgrade works, net of the SEAI grant. SEAI’s 2025 page put it the other way round: up to 25% can go on non-energy work such as redecorating.
How much does it cost?
The SBCI says rates “vary between participating finance providers” and are lower than standard rates, and doesn’t publish one figure. SEAI’s September 2025 page said “starting from just 2.99%”, depending on provider. No security or personal guarantee is required, according to the SBCI.
Illustrative example only: a €20,000 loan over 10 years at a nominal 2.99% works out at roughly €193 a month (about €23,200 repaid in total). Your lender’s actual rate, fees and repayment may differ, so ask for a quote before deciding.
Who lends
SEAI’s 2025 page listed eleven lenders: AIB, Bank of Ireland, PTSB, Avant Money (with An Post Money) and seven credit unions (Clonmel, Connect, First South, Listowel, Naomh Breandan, North Midlands and Progressive). The list may have changed, so check the SBCI or SEAI before you apply.
Is it worth taking?
A loan can make sense when a grant-aided upgrade would otherwise stall, for example a heat pump project where the grant doesn’t cover the whole quote. It makes less sense if the upgrade only saves a few hundred euro a year and the repayments are higher than the saving. Use the grant application guide to get the grant approved first, then compare repayment to expected savings.
