What Is The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant & How Can I Apply?

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant provides funding so you can refurbish vacant and derelict homes. It can also be used to renovate properties that have not been used as residential properties before. You can get the grant if you are refurbishing the vacant property so you can live there, or so you can rent the property out. You can get a grant of up to €50,000 to renovate a vacant property and up to €70,000 if the property is derelict. At Midlands Real Estate we are happy to help our clients achieve success application in receiving such grants.

To qualify for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, you must meet the following criteria:

• The property must have been vacant for 2 years or more. You will not qualify if the property has been left unreasonably or purposely vacant so you can get the grant.
• The property must have been built before 2008. (Before 1 May 2023, only homes built before 1993 qualified.)
• You must own the property or be in the process of buying it.
• You must live in the property as your principal private residence when the work is completed, or make it available for rent.
• You must have tax clearance from Revenue and your tax affairs must be in order.
• You must have paid your LPT, if applicable.
• You must not be a registered company or developer.

You can only get the grant twice. You can get one grant to refurbish a home to live in, and another for a home you are going to rent out.

You can get up to €50,000 to renovate a vacant property and up to €70,000 if the property is derelict.  If the renovation costs more than the grant, you will have to pay for this. You can apply to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for the Better Energy Homes Grant Scheme. This grant helps improve the energy efficiency of your home, by helping with the cost of insulating your home or installing a heat pump or solar panels. Work covered by the SEAI scheme is not covered by the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.

The grant amounts increased on 1 May 2023. If you applied for the grant before 1 May 2023 and you haven’t got your grant yet, the new grant amounts can be applied. The grant must be approved before any work begins.

How Do I Apply For The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant?

Complete the application form and send it to the local authority with your supporting documents.