How Long Does a House Have to Be Vacant to Get a Grant? 

Have you an unoccupied property that you are looking to upgrade? Then luckily for you in Ireland there is a vacant property grant available which provides funding so you can refurbish your vacant or derelict home. This grant is versatile funding and can be used to renovate vacant and derelict properties that have not been used as residential properties before, providing there is the now the correct planning permission. This funding can be awarded to those renovating a vacant property so that they can live or  rent it out.  

So, what is the vacant property grant and how do you avail yourself of it? 

At Sigma Homes, we are here to guide you through the vacant property grant. The official name for it is The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and this can provide funding of up to €50,000 to refurbish unoccupied property and up to €70,000 if it is a derelict property. The grant is funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage through the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. The term “vacant” means that to avail of the vacant property funding, the property must be either vacant for two years or more or it is in a state of derelict where no one can live in it. If you buy the property and leave it purposely vacant for two years in hopes of receiving the grant, you will not qualify for it. 

To receive the vacant property grant there are some other criteria that you must be aware of such as: 

• You must be the owner of the property or in the process of buying it. 

• You must live in the house or rent it out when it is complete. 

• If you plan on renting the house, with the Residential Tenancies Board, you must register the tenancy 

• Tax affairs must be organised and have received the go ahead from Revenue. 

• The Local Property Tax on the house must be paid 

• And you can’t qualify for the vacant property grant if you are a registered company. 

To apply for the grant you must have proof that the property has been vacant for two or more years. Utility bills such as ESB can be used to show it is vacant during a particular period. You must also be able to provide proof that you own the property and hold proof of planning permission if it is required. If you intend on applying for the vacant property grant to using on a derelict building, the property must be on the Derelict Sites Register or a report from a qualified professional stating the property is derelict. You will also need to provide a quote for the work that needs to be completed as well as signing a declaration and an affidavit provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government. The quote for the work needed to be completed is where Sigma Homes can help you! 

After these steps have been completed the application will be reviewed and processed. To save time waiting for an answer before you apply, contact the vacant homes officer in your area to see if your property will qualify for the vacant property grant scheme. At Sigma Homes we specialise in refurbishing vacant and derelict properties. Whether you want a free quote or a chat about the process we would love to hear from you! For any queries, please contact our team.