How Upcoming BER, ESG and Flood‑Risk Requirements Will Impact Property Owners in Ireland

IPAV ESG Flood EVS2025 Presentation To Be Used

Insights from Wallace Real Estate’s Director Tony Wallace following a sold‑out national webinar

The Director of Wallace Real Estate, Tony Wallace, recently delivered a sold‑out national webinar for the IPAV – Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers. The session focused on three major forces that will reshape the Irish residential and investment property market over the coming years: ESG obligations, Flood‑Risk Mapping, and the new European Valuation Standards (EVS 2025).

These evolving requirements will have a direct impact on homeowners, landlords and property investors across Ireland—particularly in Limerick, Galway, and surrounding counties where housing stock varies widely in age, energy performance and climate exposure.

Mandatory Minimum BER Ratings: A Major Shift Ahead

A key message from the webinar is that minimum Building Energy Ratings (BER) will soon be legally required to rent or sell residential property. As minimum BER thresholds are phased in, properties with poor energy performance will face significant challenges, including:

Restrictions on being rented
Reduced demand from lenders
Difficulty securing insurance
Lower market value and saleability
Higher renovation and compliance costs

These changes will have a profound effect on:

Property lettings
Property valuations
Market liquidity
Long‑term investment performance

For many landlords, this may represent the largest regulatory shift since BER certification was first introduced.

ESG: Now a Core Part of Property Valuation

ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) considerations are now formally embedded in European valuation practice under EVS 2025. This means valuers must consider:

Energy efficiency
Sustainability standards
Environmental exposure and risk
Governance and compliance factors

ESG will directly influence:

Market value
Rental potential
Finance and lending conditions
Attractiveness to future purchasers or tenants

Flood‑Risk Mapping: Increasingly Critical for Owners and Investors

The webinar also demonstrated how modern flood‑risk analysis using OPW flood mapping and CFRAM datasets is now a fundamental part of assessing:

Insurance availability and costs
Market value and liquidity
Lender willingness to finance
Long‑term compliance with planning and environmental obligations

Even properties not historically impacted by flooding may now fall within updated flood‑risk zones, raising important questions for owners and investors.

What These Changes Mean for Property Owners in Limerick, Galway and Across Ireland

Whether you are a homeowner, landlord or property investor, these upcoming requirements will influence:

Your ability to rent your property
Your ability to sell your property
The cost of upgrading to required standards
Long‑term flood‑risk exposure
The valuation and financial performance of your asset
Compliance with evolving Irish and EU regulations

With so many moving parts—from BER upgrades to ESG analysis to climate‑risk assessment—property owners will increasingly need specialist advice.

How Wallace Real Estate Can Support You

At Wallace Real Estate, we specialise in helping clients navigate these regulatory and environmental challenges. We are proud to have an in‑house sustainability expert, Sarah O’Connell, who provides clear, evidence‑based guidance on:

ESG impacts on property value
Flood‑risk exposure and OPW mapping
BER upgrade pathways and compliance planning
EVS 2025 valuation implications
Long‑term investment risk and performance

Protect Your Property’s Value in a Changing Market

With BER obligations tightening, ESG requirements expanding, and flood‑risk assessments becoming standard practice, now is the time for property owners to prepare.

👉 Visit www.wre.ie to arrange a consultation with Wallace Real Estate.
Our expert team—including our sustainability specialist, Sarah O’Connell—is here to help you safeguard your property and plan ahead with confidence.