What is the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant?
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is a payment you can get if you are turning a vacant house or building into your permanent home or a rental property.
A grant of up to €50,000 is available.
If the refurbishment costs exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available. See below.
How to qualify?
To qualify for the grant, you must:
- have proof of ownership or evidence of active negotiations to buy the property (that is, confirmation of engagement from the estate agent or owner of the property) where you are seeking approval in principle for a grant
- live in the property as your principal private residence or make it available for rent
- have proof that the property has been vacant for at least 2 years and that it was built up to and including 2007
The grant applies to qualifying vacant properties in cities, towns, villages and rural parts of the country
Rates of Payment
Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant
A grant of up to €50,000 is available. This is subject to upper limits for different types of work, having regard to a reasonable cost assessment by the local authority. The grant is inclusive of the VAT cost of the works.
Derelict Property Top-up Grant
If the refurbishment costs exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available. To get this top-up grant, you must confirm that the property is derelict. This means that the property is structurally unsound and dangerous. The total grant available for a derelict property is therefore €70,000.
You must submit an independent report prepared by a qualified professional, along with the application confirming that the property is derelict.
Types of work covered
The following categories of works will be eligible for grant assistance, subject to a reasonable cost assessment by the local authority and to any limits for specific works as may be set out in guidance from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage:
- Demolitions / Strip-out / Site Clearance (including removal of hazardous materials)
- Substructure works (including works to foundations; rising walls; beds / slabs; damp-proofing; underpinning)
- Superstructure works (including works to internal / external walls; chimneys; upper floors; stairs; roof structure; other structural timbers)
- Completions (including works associated with external doors and windows; internal doors and associated frames, architraves and ironmongery; balustrades; skirtings; rooflights; fascias / soffits; rainwater goods)
- Finishes (including finishes to external / internal walls; ceiling finishes; tiling / waterproof finishes to wet areas; roof finishes)
- Services (including plumbing; heating; ventilation; power; lighting; telecommunications; smoke / CO2 detection)
- Fittings (including kitchen units; sanitary / bathroom fittings)
- External Works (necessary external / site works carried out within the curtilage of the site)
- Extension within the ambit of exempt development under planning regulations, as part of a wider refurbishment.
- Professional services associated with works (fees / surveys)
Further Information and Application
Further information is contained in the scheme outline, associated FAQs and application form which can be downloaded from related documents below or visit gov.ie here. For further information please contact vacanthomesoffice@roscommoncoco.ie
Other evidence and documentation you need to provide
- If property is jointly owned, all owners must have their details included on the application form and sign the form, all affidavits etc must also be signed by all owners.
- Proof of vacancy for at least 2 years, please forward one of the items listed below:
- ESB networks may be able to provide a letter to state that electricity was cut off on x date and remains disconnected or a letter to state there has been low energy usage in the property for x years, ESB bills showing low usage over 2 year period to date can also be submitted.
- Letter from estate agent on company headed notepaper stating that the property has been unoccupied for X years (if property has recently been purchased)
- Sworn solicitor’s affidavit stating the duration the property has been vacant and that the property is currently vacant.
- Folio showing you are owner or letter from Solicitor / Estate Agents confirming sale negotiations
- Provide the LPT Property History Summary / Statement of Account for the property which is the subject of the grant application
- Submit signed affidavit confirming that no other application has been made or no grant has been received by the applicant for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, either for the property that is subject of this application or any other property, for Rental purposes, including applications to any other Local Authority. (affidavit to be witnessed and signed by Solicitor)
- Submit signed affidavit of intention to make the property available for rent and that a tenancy will be registered with the Residential Tenancies Board prior to grant drawdown (required if property is to be rented following refurbishment). (affidavit to be witnessed and signed by Solicitor)
- Detailed quotation from your contractor/ Contractors of the proposed works to the existing vacant property. - quotation must be broken down as per works category page 13 of application form. If you are completing the works by means of self-build, please provide a breakdown of the works that you are applying under each category and provide an estimate of the associated costs. If approved for the grant, the applicant will be required to submit original invoices for materials from suppliers for the work applied for, which includes the delivery address and eircode of the property which is the subject of this grant and they will be required before any grant funding is drawn down.
- Independent Report from a qualified professional e.g. Engineer confirming the property is structurally unsound and dangerous if applying for the top-up derelict property grant.
- Provide details of your Planning Permission if no permission is applied for / required please complete and submit the Declaration of Exempted Development from Roscommon County Council Planning Department. (Attached)
- Provide confirmation that the septic tank (if applicable) is registered with ProtectOurWater.ie.
Submit your application form and supporting information to vacanthomesoffice@roscommoncoco.ie or by post to:
Vacant Homes Office
Housing Department
Aras an Chontae
Roscommon
Co. Roscommon F42 VR98
