20 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if applicants for social housing are presented with a building energy rating certificate when social housing is being allocated; if an application for social housing will be adversely affected if the applicant is unwilling to accept a BER rating of less than C1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44391/10]

In accordance with the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006, housing authorities are required to present, on the allocation of a tenancy to a household, a printed copy of the property's BER certificate and advisory report.

Under current housing legislation, the BER rating of a property is not a reason for refusing an offer of social housing support from a housing authority. Similarly, the Housing Act 2009, which will amend and update allocation policy, does not provide the BER rating of a property as a reason to refuse an offer of accommodation.