Vacant or Derelict Home
Begin with the local authority’s Vacant Homes Officer. Evidence of ownership or an active purchase, vacancy, age and itemised quotations is normally required.
HOUSING GRANTS · IRELAND
Housing Grants Ireland: Current Supports for Homes, Energy and Refurbishment
Compare the main public supports that may help with a vacant or derelict property, home-energy work, solar panels, disability adaptations and protected buildings.
Information checked 28 July 2026. Scheme rules can change; confirm your position with the relevant scheme before relying on an estimate.START WITH THE PURPOSE
Which Type of Work Are You Planning?
Eligibility is normally based on the property, the proposed work, who occupies the home and whether approval is obtained before work begins.
Energy and Solar
Use the SEAI route that matches a single measure, a managed one-stop-shop upgrade or a fully funded energy-poverty scheme.
Adaptation or Essential Repair
Local authorities administer grants for disability adaptations, mobility aids and essential repairs for older people, with household-income rules.
PLANNING TABLE
Main Grants and Supports at a Glance
Amounts are ceilings, not automatic awards. The approving body decides the eligible work and final payment.
| Support | Planning Limit | What It May Cover |
|---|---|---|
| Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant | Up to €50,000 | For an eligible property vacant for at least two years and built before 2008, being returned to use as a permanent home or rental property. |
| Derelict Property Top-up | Up to €20,000 extra | May bring the total support to €70,000 where the local authority accepts evidence that the qualifying property is derelict. |
| Vacant Commercial Building Conversion | Up to €110,000 | Enhanced limits can apply when an entire former commercial or public building creates two or more homes. The exact ceiling depends on vacancy, dereliction and unit count. |
| Conservation Advice Grant | Up to €5,000 | Can cover part of the cost of specialist conservation advice for a qualifying vacant traditional house. |
| SEAI Home Energy Grants | Measure dependent | Supports may cover insulation, windows and doors, heat pumps, heating controls, solar electricity and deeper whole-home upgrades, subject to current technical rules. |
| Housing Adaptation Grants | Need and means tested | Local-authority grants can support disability adaptations, mobility aids and essential repairs for older people. |
| Built Heritage Investment Scheme | €2,500–€50,000 | Supports repair and conservation of qualifying protected structures. Application windows and available streams change by funding year. |
IMPORTANT CHECKS
Do These Before Committing to Work
Confirm the Scheme Is Open
Funding rounds, grant values and qualifying measures can change. Check the administering body’s current page.
Apply Before Starting
Many schemes do not fund work started before approval. Keep quotations, photographs, BER documents and ownership evidence.
Check Tax, Planning and Clawbacks
Rental use, sale within a defined period, planning permission or tax relief can change the financial outcome.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to the points buyers most often need to confirm.
Can I combine a vacant-home grant with an energy grant?+
Potentially, where each scheme’s conditions are met and the same cost is not funded twice. Confirm the proposed combination with the local authority and SEAI before work begins.
Are grants available for a second home?+
Some property-based supports may allow an eligible home to be made available for rent, while owner-occupier and welfare-linked grants have different rules. A holiday home or occasionally used second home is not automatically eligible.
Is there a grant for solar panels?+
SEAI administers the Solar PV grant for qualifying homes. Technical requirements, installer requirements and grant values should be checked before installation.
Can I get help for an abandoned house?+
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant may apply where the vacancy, age, ownership and intended-use conditions are met. A derelict-property top-up requires additional evidence accepted by the local authority.
Do green mortgage discounts count as grants?+
No. A green mortgage is a lender product that may offer a rate or benefit based on energy performance. It is separate from a public grant and remains subject to lender approval.