Vacant Property Grant Scheme Advisors

Energy Rating and Planning Services provide advice and guidance on the Vacant Property Grant Scheme and we offer a service of applying and implementing the grant funds within your project in addition to the SEAI funded grants to achieve your retrofit outcome.

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Scheme is delivered by each Local Authority and applies to vacant properties in Cities, Towns, Villages and Rural parts of the Country. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched on 14 July 2022 and benefits those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence. When the grant was launched, vacant properties in towns and villages were included. The grant was expanded in November 2022 to include eligible vacant properties in cities, towns, villages and rural parts of the country.

From 1 May 2023, the grant is being further expanded to provide for applications for one property which will be made available for rent, in addition to one property which will be a principal private residence of the owner. A maximum of two grants will be available to an applicant. Only one grant will be available for a vacant property being made available for rent.

The Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, is targeted to deliver some 2,000 homes by 2025. Data is being gathered on an on-going basis. While the scheme is being kept under continuing review, a comprehensive overall review and evaluation of the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund will be undertaken no later than mid-2024.

From 1 May 2023, a grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for:

– the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence;

– for properties which will be made available for rent,including the conversion of properties which have not been used as residential heretofore, subject to appropriate planning permission being in place.

This is subject to upper limits for the types of work, specified below, having regard to a reasonable cost assessment by the local authority. The grant is inclusive of the VAT cost of the works.

Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict (i.e. structurally unsound and dangerous) or if the property is already on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000. In the case of a top-up grant in respect of a derelict property not on the Derelict Sites Register, an independent report prepared by an appropriately qualified professional is required to be submitted along with the application, confirming, to the satisfaction of the local authority, that the property is derelict.

Those applying for the grant are required to indicate on the application form if they are applying in respect of a property that will become their principal private residence or property that will be made available for rent. This must be indicated at the outset as different conditions apply depending on the application type.

Those applying for the grant are also required to indicate on the application form if they are applying for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant alone or the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant including the Derelict Property top-up Grant.

The level of grant payable is contingent on the works approved by the local authority and is paid on completion of the works and based on vouched expenditure following a final inspection by the local authority.

An SEAI Better Energy Home Scheme Grant may be available in combination with this grant.

However, works covered by SEAI Better Energy Homes Scheme will not also be provided for under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. The local authority must satisfy themselves that proposed works are not claimed for under any other grant.

 Documents regarding to the Vacant Property grant scheme: