Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant: what you can get and the paperwork
If a house has been empty for two years or more and was built before 2008, your council may give you up to €50,000 towards the work, or up to €70,000 if it's derelict. You have to live in it or let it out afterwards. The council pays once the work is finished and inspected, against itemised invoices.
Checked October 2026. Source: Department of Housing scheme outline (PDF, hosted by Kildare County Council).
Be the first to use Toolo
Get quick quotes from expert local trades
By signing up you agree that Toolo can email you about the launch. You can unsubscribe at any time.
What it is
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is part of the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund. The Department of Housing funds it and your local council runs it. It pays towards refurbishing a vacant home so it becomes someone's home again.
The home must become your main home or be let. If that doesn't happen, or stops within 10 years, the council can claw back the grant. Over 3,000 vacant or derelict homes were brought back into use through the grant in 2025.
Who qualifies
- The home has been vacant for two years or more
- It was built in or before 2007
- It will be your principal private residence, or you will let it
- You have tax clearance (for grants over €10,000) and your Local Property Tax is up to date
- You get the council's approval before work starts
How much you can get
| Vacant home | Up to €50,000 |
|---|---|
| Derelict top-up (needs a structural engineer's report) | Up to €20,000 more, €70,000 in total |
| Vacant home on a qualifying island | Up to €60,000 |
| Derelict home on a qualifying island | Up to €84,000 |
| Above-the-shop version, one unit | Up to €95,000, rising to €140,000 |
- The grant amount includes VAT.
- Some of the 10 cost categories on the application form have their own caps, for example €21,000 for external completions (category 4a) and €7,700 for a kitchen (category 7a).
- Measures already funded by SEAI can't be claimed again under this grant. Your own labour isn't eligible on self-build: materials only.
Official maximums from Department of Housing scheme outline (PDF, hosted by Kildare County Council), checked October 2026. What you get depends on your home and the work.
How to apply
- Check the home qualifies. Talk to your council's Vacant Homes Officer about the vacancy and age rules.
- Get a quote in the council's categories. Your builder breaks the quote down into the 10 cost categories on the application form. If the home is derelict, get a structural engineer's report.
- Apply to your council. With the quote, tax clearance, LPT details and bank details.
- Wait for approval. Don't start the work until the council has approved the grant.
- Get the work done within 13 months. Works must finish within 13 months of approval.
- Send invoices and get inspected. Send itemised invoices and receipts labelled by category. After a final inspection, the council pays the grant.
Do you need approval before work starts?
Yes. Get the council's approval before work starts. The works must then be finished within 13 months of approval.
What your contractor must provide
- A quote broken down into the 10 cost categories on the application form
- Invoices on the contractor's headed paper, showing their VAT number
- Works itemised with costs, each invoice or receipt labelled with its category number, and files named supplier plus category
- Electrical work: an itemised invoice showing the contractor's Safe Electric registration number
- Heating and plumbing: an itemised invoice split into materials and labour, from a registered heating contractor, on headed paper. Fossil-fuel boilers aren't covered
- The contractor's tax reference, which some councils ask for
- An engineer's or architect's Opinion on Compliance where planning permission or an exemption applies
Are you a trade? See the full grant invoice checklist.
Trades who do this work
Pick a trade, then your town, to find verified, insured local businesses.
Questions about the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant
How much is the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant?
Up to €50,000 for a vacant home, plus up to €20,000 if it's derelict, for a total of up to €70,000. On qualifying islands it's up to €60,000, or €84,000 if derelict.
Does the grant include VAT?
Yes. The grant amount includes VAT.
How long do I have to finish the work?
Works must be finished within 13 months of the council's approval.
Can I claim SEAI grants too?
Yes, but a measure funded by SEAI can't be claimed again under this grant.
When does the council pay?
After the work is complete and the council has done a final inspection, against itemised invoices and receipts.
Can I do the work myself?
Your own labour isn't eligible. On self-build, only materials are covered.
Official sources
- Department of Housing scheme outline (PDF, hosted by Kildare County Council)
- Louth County Council: final stages of the grant
- Galway County Council: supporting documentation (PDF)
- Leitrim County Council: Croí Cónaithe island rates (PDF)
- gov.ie: above-the-shop continuation
- gov.ie: over 3,000 homes brought back into use in 2025
Checked October 2026. Amounts and rules can change, so check the official source before you apply.
Related grants
Find a trade for grant work
Describe the job once and compare clear quotes from verified, insured local trades. Join the waitlist for early access.
Get early access