Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock.
In July 2022 the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use.
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 and for properties which will be made available for rent, including the conversion of a property which has not been used as residential heretofore, subject to appropriate planning permission being in place.
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 or where 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.
The grant is available in respect of vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007, in towns, villages, cities and rural areas.
A maximum of two grants are available to any applicant, of which one must be in respect of a home they intend to occupy as their principal private residence and the other may be in respect of a property which will be made available for rent.
A property must be vacant for two years or more at the time of grant application and proof of vacancy is required to support grant applications. Proof of vacancy can be confirmed by the provision of utility bills, which can help determine vacancy periods (e.g. continuous and consistent low or zero electricity usage or disconnection for a period of two years), correspondence from ESB Networks confirming a date the electricity was cut off, a letter from an estate agent confirming the period of vacancy or a sworn solicitor's affidavit from the previous owners confirming the length of vacancy.
The administration of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, including the application, assessment, approval and payment to applicants, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority. Applicants may be requested to provide additional documentation to support their grant application to the satisfaction of the relevant local authority. Guidance on the administration of the grant has been issued to local authorities by my Department.
