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Vacant Home Renovation Grant
Kelly Ohlmus
/ Categories: Home Improvement News

Vacant Home Renovation Grant

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant in Ireland, now offers up to €70,000 to renovators willing to revive derelict homes. Discover eligibility requirements, coverage of costs, and the application process.

Starting from May 1st, 2023, the Irish government is offering up to €70,000 to renovators willing to refurbish and bring abandoned houses back to life.

Previously capped at €50,000, the grant comes with an increased allowance for derelict properties. This decision is part of a new and improved Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant scheme that will soon expand, from covering buildings constructed before 1993 to those as recent as 2007. Additionally, the grant can also be used for properties intended for rental, along with owner-occupied units.

The scheme received a large uptake after its launch in July 2022, which spurred its subsequent expansion in November to also cover other rural areas and cities. The generous grant covers several costs related to refurbishment, such as structural work, roofing, painting, building services, and professional fees.

 

 

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant gives funding for refurbishing vacant and derelict homes.

To qualify:

  • You must own the home, or be in the process of buying it
  • Your home must have been vacant for two years or more
  • Your home must have been built before 1993
  • You must live in the property as your principal private home after the work is done
  • You must have tax clearance from Revenue and your tax affairs must be in order.
  • You must have paid your local property tax, if applicable.
  • You must not have already got funding under the grant.

 

How much is the Grant?

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant offers up to €50,000 for the refurbishment of a vacant property or up €70,000 if the property is derelict. The grant includes Vat.

Eligibility for these schemes requires the property to have remained vacant for at least two years, and be constructed prior to 2008. In addition, derelict properties require an independent report confirming its condition as being unfit for use.

If the renovation costs more than the grant, you will have to pay for the additional costs.

The grants may be combined with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s Better Energy Home Scheme supports, which could also offer a further €26,750 in support.

The grant must be approved before any work begins and is issued by local authorities. 

 

What does the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant cover?

  • Demolition work and site clearances, including the removal of hazardous materials
  • Work on foundations, rising walls, floor slabs, damp-proofing and underpinning
  • Work on chimneys, suspended timber floors and structural timbers
  • Work on internal walls, stairs, landings, doors, windows and applied finishes
  • External walls and roof completions
  • Building services such as plumbing, heating, ventilation, electrical services, and telecommunications
  • Painting and decoration needed because of the work
  • Extensions that meet the planning regulations and are part of the wider refurbishment
  • Necessary external works and site development
  • Professional services associated with work

 

"Being a homeowner, who recently took on the challenge of reviving a derelict property, you can imagine my excitement when I heard the news. The increased grants are a godsend! The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant has been a game-changer in covering the costs of my property's restoration. And now, with the grant offering a whopping €70,000 for derelict properties, I cannot wait to see my place undergo a remarkable transformation with the help of Onlinetradesmen." - Sharon Murphy

 

Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Application Process

Send the completed application form, supporting documents and a quote for the renovations to your local authority. The supporting documents must prove that you own the home and that it is vacant or derelict.

Your local authority will review your application and send someone to the property to check that the work is possible and to assess the cost. The local authority will then let you know if your application has been successful.

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant will be prioritised as follows:

1. First-time buyers and ‘fresh start’ applicants.

2. Applicants with needs i.e. people with disabilities and older people who are selling or have sold their current home and want to refurbish a vacant home to live in.

3. Anyone else who is selling or has sold their home and wants to refurbish a vacant home to live in.

From 1 May 2023, the grant will be extended to people who want to rent out the property when it has been refurbished.

Read 7 Steps to Renovating a Vacant or Derelict Property

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