SEAI Registered Contractors Ireland 2026

Before you call a single contractor, read this page.

Most Irish homeowners searching for "SEAI approved contractors" do not realise that SEAI has six different registers. A contractor registered for insulation is not automatically registered for heat pumps. A contractor registered for heat pumps may not be registered for solar PV. Getting this wrong costs you your entire grant.

This guide explains which register you need, how to check it and what to look for before you hire. For grant amounts and eligibility rules, see our full SEAI grants Ireland 2026 guide.

"SEAI Approved" Is Not an Official Term

The first thing worth knowing is that "SEAI approved" is not a phrase SEAI uses.

SEAI's official term is "SEAI registered." Some contractors use "approved," "certified" or "accredited" in their marketing. These terms have no official meaning in the context of SEAI grants.

What actually matters for your grant is this: the contractor's name must appear on the correct SEAI register for the specific measure you are claiming. That is all. If they are on the right list, the grant is possible. If they are not, it is not.

SEAI registration is not an endorsement. SEAI's own website states it does not provide a guarantee, warranty or approve a company's or the contractor's works. Registration confirms they have met the entry requirements. It does not guarantee the quality of their work on your home.

Which SEAI Register Do You Need?

SEAI runs six different registers. Most homeowners only need one or two. Here is which one applies to each grant.

The grant you want The register you need Where to check
Attic insulation BEH Contractor register hes.seai.ie
Cavity, external or internal wall insulation BEH Contractor register hes.seai.ie
Windows and doors (new from March 2026) BEH Contractor register hes.seai.ie
Heating controls BEH Contractor register hes.seai.ie
Heat pump BEH Contractor list AND Renewable Energy Installer list Both must be checked
Solar PV Solar PV Company Register seai.ie/find-contractors
Solar water heating Renewable Energy Installer list seai.ie/find-contractors
One Stop Shop (full retrofit) OSS Provider list seai.ie/one-stop-shop
BER assessment BER Assessor register ndber.seai.ie

The heat pump rule catches many homeowners out. If you are getting a heat pump installed, the contractor must appear on both the BEH Contractor list and the Renewable Energy Installer list. Check both. A contractor on only one of these two lists cannot complete a grant-eligible heat pump installation.

One Stop Shop providers are limited. Only 28 to 31 One Stop Shop providers operate nationwide as of early 2026. If you want a full retrofit managed end to end, start your search early. Waitlists are long and availability varies significantly by county.

Find SEAI Registered Contractors in Your County

Select your county below for registered contractors by upgrade type. County pages are being added; use the official SEAI register links at the bottom of this page to verify contractors for now.

Dublin · Cork · Galway · Limerick · Kildare · Meath · Wicklow · Wexford · Waterford · Tipperary · Clare · Kerry · Mayo · Sligo · Donegal · Louth · Monaghan · Cavan · Roscommon · Longford · Leitrim · Offaly · Laois · Westmeath · Kilkenny · Carlow

The Correct Order Before You Contact a Contractor

Most homeowners contact a contractor first, then discover they need a BER or SEAI approval first. This wastes time for everyone.

Here is the correct order.

Step 1: Check your grants first. Use the free SEAI grant calculator to see which grants apply to your home. This tells you which upgrade type to focus on and which contractor type to look for.

Step 2: Get a BER assessment. A BER assessment is required before almost every SEAI grant application. It confirms your home's current energy rating and identifies which upgrades will have the biggest impact. Book a BER assessor from the official register. The BER assessment grant covers €50 of the cost (€280 if you receive qualifying welfare payments).

Step 3: Apply for grant approval before contacting a contractor. You apply at hes.seai.ie, receive written approval, then contact your chosen contractor. Do not book a contractor before your SEAI grant approval is in writing. Works that start before written approval are permanently disqualified from the grant.

Step 4: Choose a contractor from the correct register. Confirm the contractor is on the right SEAI register for your specific measure. Ask them to confirm their registration number. Check it yourself at seai.ie.

Step 5: Get three quotes. Prices for the same job can vary by 30% to 40%. For a heat pump on a typical 3-bed semi, quotes range from €10,000 to €18,000 before grants as of March 2026. Get three written quotes before choosing. Our how to get roofing quotes Ireland guide covers the same discipline for roof and insulation jobs: written scope, comparable line items and no work before approval.

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Five Things to Check Before You Sign Anything

1. Are they on the right register for the specific measure? A contractor registered for insulation is not automatically registered for heat pumps. Check the correct register for each measure separately.

2. Do they carry public liability insurance? Ask for a copy of their public liability insurance certificate. Any contractor doing energy upgrade work in your home should carry at least €2.6 million in cover.

3. Will they provide a written contract? SEAI requires a written contract between you and the contractor before work starts. It must cover the full scope of works, price, timeline and payment terms.

4. Are they asking for full payment upfront? Legitimate contractors take a deposit, not the full amount. A deposit of 20 to 30 percent is normal. Full payment upfront before work begins is a red flag.

5. Can they provide references from similar recent jobs? Ask to speak with a recent customer who had the same type of upgrade on a similar property. A contractor who has installed heat pumps in detached farmhouses may not have experience in 1990s semi-Ds.

One Key Rule on Switching Contractors

You can switch contractors after your SEAI grant is approved. You do not need to use the contractor you named on your original application.

Contact SEAI to update the contractor on your application. Do not start work with a new contractor until the change is confirmed.

This is worth knowing if your original contractor quotes higher than expected after getting on site, or is unavailable within your 8-month grant window.

Combining a Roof Replacement with Insulation

If you are replacing your roof, this is the best time to upgrade your attic insulation.

The scaffold is already in place. Adding attic insulation during the same project saves €1,200 to €2,500 in scaffold hire. The insulation contractor must be SEAI registered and you must have SEAI approval in place before work starts.

The insulation contractor can be the same as your roofer if they are SEAI registered, or a separate contractor for that element only. Read our SEAI roof insulation grant guide for grant amounts and the apply-before-work rule.

See how the roof and insulation combination works. Compare roof replacement costs in Dublin and Cork, or use the free roof cost calculator and our new roof cost Ireland 2026 guide for full project budgets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between SEAI registered and SEAI approved?

There is no difference in practice. SEAI's official term is "registered." "Approved" is marketing language used by some contractors. What matters for your grant is whether the contractor appears on the correct SEAI register for your specific measure.

How do I check if a contractor is SEAI registered?

Go to hes.seai.ie for the Better Energy Homes contractor search tool, which covers insulation, heat pumps, windows, heating controls and BER work. For solar PV, use the Solar PV Company Register at seai.ie. For BER assessors, use the register at ndber.seai.ie. Always check the register yourself, not just the contractor's word.

Can I use any SEAI registered contractor or does it have to be local?

You can use any SEAI registered contractor regardless of where they are based. Many contractors work across county borders, particularly in rural areas. The contractor's county of registration does not limit where they can work.

What happens if I use an unregistered contractor?

Your grant claim is permanently disqualified. SEAI will not pay and there is no appeals process. This applies even if the work is completed to a high standard and the contractor does everything else correctly. The only thing that matters is SEAI registration for the specific measure.

How many One Stop Shop providers operate in Ireland?

Approximately 28 to 31 nationwide as of early 2026. They service different counties so availability varies. If you want a One Stop Shop, start by checking which providers cover your county at seai.ie.

Can I change my contractor after getting SEAI approval?

Yes. Contact SEAI to update your application with the new contractor's details. Do not allow the new contractor to start any works until SEAI has confirmed the change in writing.

All register information verified against seai.ie May 2026. SEAI register details can change. Always confirm a contractor's current registration directly with SEAI before agreeing to any works or making any payment.