Contents

• How much can you receive in grants for having a heat pump installed?
• How does support work in 2026?
• Who qualifies for SEAI heat pump grants?
• How to apply for SEAI heat pump grants
• Ready to explore heat pumps for your home?
• Frequently asked questions

The SEAI has announced increased grants for heat pump installations as part of Ireland's wider National Residential Retrofit Plan 2026.

This follows a record year in 2025 when 58,000 homeowners used grants to upgrade their homes.

How much can you receive in grants for having a heat pump installed?

Straight off the bat homeowners can claim a grant of €6,500 for a house, and €4,500 for an apartment to have a heat pump installed before considering work that triggers additional support.

New rules introduced for 2026 mean that applications processed after February 3rd 2026 will be able to claim €2,000 for upgrading radiators and pipework in houses, and €1,000 for apartments, as part of the heat pump installation.

There is also a renewable heat bonus of €4,000 available, meaning in total homeowners can claim up to €12,500 in support for houses and €9,500 for apartments.

How does the additional support work?

To receive the €2,000 bonus you will need to upgrade your pipes and radiators, while the €4,000 Renewable Heat Bonus can only be claimed if you are replacing existing fossil fuel heating systems with your new heat pump.

You can claim the €4,000 Renewable Heat Bonus without upgrading your pipes and radiators, the SEAI has told Heatpump.ie.

"However, to qualify for the Renewable Heat Bonus, the heat pump must be replacing an existing heating system, such as a gas or oil boiler.

Therefore, the bonus is not contingent upon upgrading the pipework and radiators, although doing so can enhance the efficiency of the heat pump system," the SEAI confirmed to Heatpump.ie.

When speaking to heat pump installers be sure to ask whether they offer the additional services that provide the extra grants as they may not provide full retrofit services.

Make sure you ask what the additional work to unlock increased grants costs.

It's also worth asking what all the extra work to access the other grants will cost so you have a good overview of the total project spend before you commit.

We can help you on your heat pump journey by connecting you with SEAI heat pump installers in your area.

Who qualifies for SEAI heat pump grants?

Before you start getting quotes for a heat pump, it's worth knowing whether your home is eligible.

Your home must have been built and occupied before 2021. This is based on when your electricity meter was installed, not necessarily when construction finished.

Homes built from 2007 onwards don't require a technical assessment, though you can still get one. For homes built before 2007, you'll need one unless you have a valid BER showing a Heat Loss Indicator of 2.3 W/(K.m²) or lower.

The assessment checks whether your home loses heat too quickly for a heat pump to work efficiently. The SEAI provides a €200 grant to cover the cost.

If your assessment shows your heat loss is too high, you'll need to improve your insulation before you can proceed. The good news is that SEAI offers grants for insulation upgrades. Your installer or technical assessor can advise on which measures would make your home heat pump-ready.

You must use an SEAI-registered heat pump installer to qualify for the grants, and you'll need grant approval before any work begins.

Good news if you've already applied: the increased grant amounts will apply to applications already submitted to the SEAI, even if they haven't been processed for payment yet.

How to apply for SEAI heat pump grants

While the application is straightforward, you'll need to plan ahead as grant approval is required before any work begins.

You have two options for managing your application:

Apply yourself - You handle the application and use an SEAI-registered contractor to do the work. The grant is paid to you or your contractor once the work is completed.

Use a One Stop Shop - Manages everything on your behalf, from application to installation. The grant is deducted upfront from the total cost.

If you're applying yourself, here's what the process looks like:

1. Get quotes from SEAI-registered contractors

You must use an SEAI-registered contractor to qualify. Shop around, check reviews and get multiple quotes before committing.

You must apply for a grant before any work can begin.

2. Apply for grant approval

You'll need your property's 11-digit MPRN (found on your electricity bill), your contractor's name and ID number, your dwelling type, and either a Technical Assessment or Self-Declaration Form. Once you receive your offer, you have 30 days to accept it.

3. Get the work done

You have eight months to complete the installation. You'll also need to arrange a post-works BER assessment before you can claim your grant.

4. Submit your paperwork

Submit your Declaration of Works form (signed by you, your contractor, and your BER assessor) and your Request for Payment for

Ready to explore heat pumps for your home?

With increased SEAI grant support of up to €12,500 now available, there's never been a better time to consider making the switch to a heat pump.

Heat pumps can significantly reduce your heating bills compared to oil, gas, or electric heating, while also lowering your carbon footprint.

We can help with your heat pump journey by connecting you with SEAI registered installers in your area. Simply fill out our form and you'll be contacted by installers and receive personalised quotes.

Frequently asked questions

About Heatpump.ie

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