Renovation grants jump to €70k

Island properties can get up to €84k plus a €7k grant for professional services.

The Croí Cónaithe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant increased the grants on offer from €30,000 to €50,000 for vacant properties, and from €50,000 to €70,000 for derelict properties. Island homes can avail of an extra 20 per cent, bringing the grant amounts to €60,000 and €84,000 respectively.

The grants are for homes built up to 2007, and are now available for properties intended for rental as well as those that will be owner-occupied.

Applications are done through your local authority and are open to both rural and urban regions. You must own or be buying a vacant or derelict property to avail of the grant.

VAT is included in the grant amount, shaving 23 per cent off the face value of the grants unless you hire a contractor in which case the reduced VAT rate of 13.5 per cent will apply.

Those who have already applied for the grant won’t be eligible for a top up, unless they haven’t drawn down on their grant amount.

“Anyone not yet paid the grant can be considered for additional funding as part of the recent grant increase,” a Department of Housing spokesperson told Selfbuild. “This will be based on the refurbishment costs applied for as part of their grant application, the local authority’s assessment of those costs and proof of expenditure.”

Expert conservation advice grant

A top up grant of €7,500 is also available for expert conservation advice for those doing up a vernacular dwelling such as a farmhouse and availing of the vacant property grant.

The Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Farmhouses provides grants of up to €7,500 (excluding VAT) to cover the cost of having a conservation expert with proven and appropriate expertise visit a property, conduct a survey, and compile tailored conservation advice for the property owner.

This expert advice will include a report