New windows are one of the dearer upgrades you can do to an older house, and SEAI’s grant covers a real slice of the bill. But it comes with conditions that catch people out, especially the insulation condition and the rule about not starting work first. Here is what SEAI’s own pages say.
How much you can get
The windows grant is a fixed amount set by house type, not a percentage of your invoice. A detached house gets €4,000. A mid-terrace gets €1,800.
The doors grant is €800 per external door, up to two doors. Two doors gives you €1,600 (2 × €800), which matches the €1,600 maximum for doors shown on SEAI’s list of individual grants.
You can apply for the windows grant, the doors grant, or both. The grant can be paid only once per property.
Here is an illustration. Say you own a semi-detached house and your quote for new windows and one door is €9,500. The windows grant is €3,000 and the door grant is €800, so the grant is €3,800 and you fund the remaining €5,700. Your own quote will differ; this is just to show how the maths works.
Who and what qualifies
- The house must have been built and occupied before 2011. Extensions built before 1 January 2011 qualify; later extensions don’t.
- Eligible owners include homeowners, companies and owner management companies, registered charities, holiday home owners, Approved Housing Bodies and landlords.
- You must replace existing single or double glazed windows with high-performing windows, and replace inefficient doors.
- You do not have to replace every window in the house.
The insulation condition most people miss
This is the rule that decides whether your windows grant goes ahead. SEAI says the property must either:
- have a Heat Loss Indicator (HLI) of 2.3 W/K·m² or lower, or
- have attic and walls rated “Good” or “Very Good” on the post-works BER Advisory Report.
Evidence of good attic and wall insulation can be prior SEAI insulation grants, an existing BER Advisory Report, or advice from a BER assessor.
In plain terms: if your attic and walls are still poorly insulated, new windows alone won’t get you the grant. You may need to do the insulation first. Our guides to attic insulation and wall insulation cover those grants.
Technical conditions
- U-value: new windows and doors must be 1.4 W/m²K or lower (for example, 1.3). The contractor and homeowner confirm this on the declaration of works form.
- Registered contractor: the work must be done by a registered contractor.
- Post-works BER: required, and it is grant-aided. You can choose a combined pre- and post-works BER.
- Ventilation: the home must be ventilated for healthy air quality. Any room with an open-flued appliance must have a permanent vent.
- Window restrictors: windows with an exterior drop of more than 1.4 m from the bottom of the opening to the ground need suitable restrictors.
- Emergency escape: windows and doors must meet emergency escape rules, including suitably sized openings and suitable locks on escape windows.
How to apply
Self-managed route, as SEAI sets it out:
- Get quotes from registered contractors.
- Apply to SEAI for a grant offer.
- Wait for the grant offer before starting works.
- Complete the works.
- Get a post-works BER.
- Submit the required documents to SEAI.
- SEAI pays the grant into your account (an inspection may apply).
Or use a One Stop Shop, which applies for the grant for you and manages the upgrade. The grant is then deducted upfront from what you pay. Our comparison of One Stop Shop vs individual grants helps you choose, and the step-by-step on applying covers the paperwork. SEAI gives no payment timeline for this grant.
Will new windows actually cut your bill?
SEAI says a home can lose about 10% of its heat through windows and doors. So windows and doors matter, but they are rarely the biggest saving. Attic and wall insulation usually come first, which is also what the grant rules reflect.
Lead times matter too. SEAI’s guidance is that standard waiting times from order to installation are 6 to 10 weeks for windows and 4 to 6 weeks for doors, so plan for a winter wait.
What to check before you sign
- Get several quotes and ask each supplier for the windows and doors certification needed for the post-works BER.
- Confirm in writing that the U-value is 1.4 or lower.
- If a room has no ventilation, ask about trickle vents.
- Keep your grant offer date ahead of your installation date.
SEAI’s pages don’t give a closing date for this grant, so check the SEAI page for current status before you commit. This article is general information, not personal financial advice.
