Derelict Property Grant Ireland 2026: What It Covers and How to Apply

Thinking of taking on an empty cottage, farmhouse, bungalow or boarded-up house? Ireland’s derelict property grant can make a major contribution towards the cost of bringing it back into use.

However, there are important conditions. The grant is generally paid after the approved work is completed, you cannot claim for work that started before approval, and a legal charge can remain on the property for ten years.

Here is what Irish homeowners and buyers need to know before taking on a derelict renovation.

What Is the Derelict Property Grant?

What most people call the derelict grant is officially the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant with a Derelict Property Top-up.

For a qualifying single dwelling:

The €70,000 amount consists of the standard grant of up to €50,000 plus a derelict-property top-up of up to €20,000. These are maximum amounts, not automatic lump sums. The council assesses the eligible work, quotations and reasonable costs before deciding how much to approve. Grant amounts include VAT.

What Counts as a Derelict Property?

A property does not qualify for the extra €20,000 simply because it is old, dated or needs a new kitchen.

For the top-up, it must be accepted as structurally unsound and dangerous. You will normally need either:

• Confirmation that it is on your local authority’s Derelict Sites Register; or
• An independent report from a registered architect, registered engineer or registered building surveyor confirming its derelict condition.

A run-down house may qualify for the €50,000 vacant-property grant without meeting the stricter test for the derelict top-up. The final decision rests with the local authority.

Who Can Apply?

To qualify for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant in Ireland, the main conditions include:

• The applicant must be a named individual or individuals. Sole traders may apply, but the scheme is not available to registered companies or developers.
• You must own the property or provide evidence that you are actively negotiating to purchase it.
• The property must have been vacant for at least two years immediately before the application.
• It must have been built before 2008.
• It must become your principal private residence, known as your PPR, or be offered as a long-term rental with the tenancy registered with the RTB.
• You must provide quotations and evidence that LPT or commercial rates are paid, deferred or exempt.

Proof of vacancy can include low or zero electricity usage, utility disconnection records, a sworn affidavit or other evidence accepted by the council. A property cannot be deliberately left empty simply to qualify. Agricultural sheds and barns are not eligible.

You can apply while actively purchasing the property and may receive approval in principle. However, the full approval and grant drawdown cannot be completed until ownership has transferred and been accepted by the local authority.

What Work Does the Grant Cover?

The grant can cover a wide range of work needed to turn a vacant or derelict building into a safe, habitable home.

Eligible categories can include:

• Strip-out, site clearance and the removal of hazardous materials
• Foundations, underpinning, rising walls and damp-proofing
• Repairs to walls, floors, stairs, chimneys, roofs and structural timbers
• Windows, external doors, rooflights, gutters, fascia and soffits
• Plumbing, heating, ventilation, electrical and lighting work
• Smoke and carbon-monoxide detection
• Internal doors, plastering, flooring, painting and decorating
• Kitchen units and bathroom fittings
• Tiling and waterproofing in wet areas
• Necessary external works within the property’s curtilage
• Professional surveys, design and consultancy fees
• Certain extensions forming part of the wider refurbishment, subject to planning rules

Partial demolition or strip-out may be included where it forms part of the wider refurbishment. The grant is not intended to fund the complete demolition of the existing property and replacement with a new house.

A standalone fossil-fuel boiler is not funded. Professional services are also subject to scheme limits, currently the lower of 10% plus VAT of the net construction cost or €14,000.

What Is Not Covered?

You should not assume every renovation cost will be refunded.

The grant will not normally cover:

• Work that started before your approval or approval-in-principle letter
• Costs exceeding the approved amount
• Work not included in the approved application
• The same work already funded through another grant
• Your own labour if you complete the work yourself
• Complete demolition and construction of an entirely new property
• A standalone oil or gas boiler

You can carry out some work yourself, but only verified material costs may qualify; the value of your own labour is not covered. SEAI support may also be used for separate energy upgrades, but the same measure cannot be funded twice.

Read the Trade Source IRE guide to SEAI grants for insulation, heat pumps and home-energy upgrades.

How to Apply for the Derelict Grant

1. Contact Your Vacant Homes Officer

Applications are managed by the county or city council where the property is located. Contact its Vacant Homes Officer before committing to major expenditure.

2. Get the Property Assessed

Before buying an old property, consider getting a structural survey and advice from an architect, engineer or building surveyor.

Check the roof, foundations, damp, drainage, septic tank, water supply, electrical installation, boundaries and access. The work can cost considerably more than the grant, so the full project needs to be costed properly.

3. Check Planning and Building-Control Requirements

Substantial refurbishment, extensions, changes of use or work to a protected structure may require planning permission.

Where there is uncertainty, the council may request planning permission or a Section 5 declaration confirming that the work is exempted development. Planning-exempt work must still comply with the Building Regulations.

Read the Trade Source IRE Planning Permission Ireland 2026 guide before starting.

4. Prepare Your Documents

Your application may require:

• A fully completed application form
• Proof that the property has been vacant for two years
• Proof that it was built before 2008
• Proof of ownership or active purchase negotiations
• Detailed quotations broken down by work category
• LPT or commercial-rates documentation
• A dereliction report or Derelict Sites Register confirmation
• Planning permission or a declaration of exemption
• Drawings, reports or other documents requested by the council
• Confirmation of whether the property will be your PPR or a rental

Missing documentation can delay the application or cause it to be withdrawn.

5. Wait for the Council Inspection and Written Decision

The local authority will review the documents and arrange for technical staff to inspect the property and assess the proposed work and costs.

Do not start work being claimed under the grant before receiving the written approval or approval-in-principle letter. Only work that has not already commenced can be included.

What Must You Do After Approval?

Receiving approval does not mean that the money is immediately transferred to your bank account. You must follow the approved process carefully.

Complete the approved work within 18 months

The standard approval period is 18 months from the date of the approval letter. An extension may be considered in exceptional circumstances, but this is at the council’s discretion.

Do not change the project without telling the council

Contact the Vacant Homes Officer before adding extra demolition, an extension, a change of use or other significant work not included in the application.

Unapproved changes can create planning questions, delay the final inspection or reduce the grant payment.

Keep detailed invoices and receipts

Invoices should identify the property, contractor, work completed, VAT and individual costs. Keep the approved work separate from unrelated improvements wherever possible.

The local authority may pay less than the amount initially approved if the final invoices and completed work do not justify the full grant.

Check tax clearance before paying contractors

The applicant must provide tax-clearance evidence where required. Tax clearance is also required for contractors carrying out qualifying construction operations valued at €650 or more.

The official FAQs advise applicants to obtain a contractor’s tax-clearance details before making payment. Failure to provide the required evidence can delay or prevent the grant from being paid.

Use properly registered professionals

Fixed electrical work should be completed and certified by a Safe Electric Registered Electrical Contractor. Gas work should be completed by an appropriately Registered Gas Installer, with the relevant certificates supplied.

Arrange the final inspection

Once the approved work is complete, the council will require detailed invoices and receipts and will inspect the property.

You may also need to provide planning or Building Control documents, bank details, tax-clearance evidence and RTB registration where the property is being rented.

Sign the legal charge documents

Before payment, a legal charge equal to the grant paid is registered against the property. The charge remains in place for ten years.

You may need to check your lender’s requirements where the property is mortgaged, particularly where your finance provider is not covered by an existing priority agreement with the local authority.

Is the Grant Paid Upfront?

No. This is one of the most important points for anybody considering a derelict renovation.

The grant is generally paid after:

1. The approved work is completed;
2. Invoices and receipts are checked;
3. The council carries out its final inspection;
4. Tax-clearance documents are supplied;
5. The legal charge is signed; and
6. Any required RTB registration or compliance documents are provided.

You will therefore need enough finance or an agreed funding arrangement to get the work completed before receiving the grant. Qualifying PPR applicants can also ask their council about the separate Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan.

Can You Sell the Property After Receiving the Grant?

For a single dwelling, selling the property or breaking the PPR or rental conditions can trigger a clawback:

Different clawback arrangements apply where a former commercial or public-use building is converted into multiple units.

For rental properties, the tenancy must be registered with the RTB before grant drawdown and remain appropriately registered during the ten-year period. Grant-supported properties cannot be used for Airbnb, holiday accommodation or other short-term letting.

New Support for Commercial and Public Buildings in 2026

For new applications made from 31 March 2026, higher maximum support is available where an entire former commercial or public-use building is converted into multiple homes:

• Two units: up to €70,000 if vacant or €90,000 if derelict
• Three or more units: up to €90,000 if vacant or €110,000 if derelict

The normal €50,000 or €70,000 limits apply where the building is converted into a single dwelling.

Find Tradesmen for a Derelict Renovation with Trade Source IRE

Restoring a derelict house can require several trades, often in a carefully planned sequence.

Trade Source IRE helps homeowners, property buyers and landlords submit their project details and connect their enquiries with potentially suitable professionals across Ireland. Contractors applying to the network are reviewed before joining, but customers should still verify insurance, qualifications, registrations, references and suitability before work begins.

Structural and exterior work

• Builders and renovation contractors
• Demolition and strip-out contractors
• Groundworks and drainage contractors
• Roofing contractors
• Carpenters and joiners
• Window and door specialists

Services, insulation and fit-out

• Electricians across Ireland
• Plumbers and heating contractors
• Insulation contractors
• Plasterers
• Find Tilers in Ireland
• Painters and decorators

Submit your derelict renovation project to Trade Source IRE with the property location, survey information, planning status, approved work categories, photographs and preferred timeframe.

Related Trade Source IRE Guides

• Builder Costs in Ireland 2026
• Planning Permission in Ireland 2026
• What Is a BER Rating and How Can You Improve It?
• SEAI Grants Ireland 2026
• Browse All Trades Across Ireland

Final Advice

The derelict property grant can turn an empty building into a valuable home, but it should not be treated as instant or guaranteed cash.

Get the building surveyed, price the complete project, speak to the local authority and arrange your finance before committing. Do not start grant-funded work early, keep every invoice and certificate, and make sure any change to the approved project is agreed in writing.

Plan it properly. Keep the paperwork. Bring an empty Irish home back to life.

Every Trade. One Trusted Source.

Official Information Sources

• Limerick City and County Council — Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant
• Department of Housing Scheme Outline — March 2026
• Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant FAQs — March 2026
• Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Application Form — July 2026
• Revenue — Tax Clearance for Grants
• Local Government Ireland — Building Regulations
• Safe Electric — Electrical Completion Certificates
• Registered Gas Installers — Find an RGI
• Residential Tenancies Board — Register a Tenancy

This guide reflects the national scheme information published in 2026. Local authorities administer individual applications and may request additional evidence. Confirm the current requirements with the Vacant Homes Officer in the area where the property is located before purchasing a property or beginning work.