A grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties, which will be made available for rent and with the tenancy registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), including the conversion of a property, which has not been used as residential heretofore, subject to appropriate planning permission being in place. This is subject to upper limits for the 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.
Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to a further €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict (i.e. structurally unsound and dangerous) or if the property is already on the local authority's Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000. In the case of a top-up grant in respect of a derelict property not on the derelict sites register, an independent report prepared by an appropriately qualified professional is required to be submitted along with the application confirming that the property is derelict. On inspection of the property, this state of dereliction will be confirmed and approved accordingly.
Those applying for the grant are required to indicate on the application form if they are applying in respect of a property that will become their principal private residence or a property that will be made available for rent.
Those applying for the grant are also required to indicate on the application form if they are applying for the Derelict Property top-up grant.
The level of grant will be contingent on the works approved by the local authority inspector and will be paid based on vouched expenditure following a final inspection by the local authority.
An SEAI Better Energy Home Scheme Grant may be available in combination with this grant. Works covered by SEAI Better Energy Homes Scheme should be separate to those being applied for under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. SEAI Grants: Home Improvement, Business, EV & More | SEAI
Properties considered for inclusion in this grant scheme must be vacant for two years or more and built up to and including 2007.
Proof of both vacancy and ownership will be required to support the grant payment. In terms of ownership, it is a matter for the applicant to confirm ownership with the local authority, usually a copy of land registry documents or title deeds.
A local authority may give approval in principle to a grant application where the applicant is able to provide evidence of active negotiations to purchase a property i.e. confirmation of engagement from the estate agency or owner of the property and where the owner provides such evidence as to vacancy as is required under the scheme on behalf of the applicant.
Further information on the grant scheme is available to download here.
Applying for the Grant
To assist you in making your grant application please see below the documents you will need to submit to the local authority together with your application:
- Your completed and signed application form.
- Proof of your current residential address.
- Proof that the property is currently vacant and has been vacant for a minimum of two years.
- Proof that the property is Local Property Tax (LPT) compliant up to and including the current year.
- Proof that the property was built up to and including 2007.
- Proof of Ownership of the property. In the case where you are in active negotiation of the purchase of the property, proof of this will suffice at application stage but the full transfer of the property must be completed before any payment of the grant is authorised.
- Tax Clearance Certificates for all grant applicants.
- Detailed and itemised quotations from all Contractors for the proposed refurbishment. Tax Clearance certificates of all contractors are sought on completion of the works, prior to payment of the grant.
- The planned project must be planning compliant. Where appropriate, an applicant under the scheme will be required to submit documents that planning permission has been attained prior to final grant approval. Please submit any planning permission details or certificates of exemption under the Planning Acts, if applicable
- Please submit any architects’ drawings which may be available, depending on the size of the project, and particularly where an extension of the current property is planned.
Applications should be submitted to vacanthomes@galwaycity.ie
In the case of properties becoming a rental property, the following extra documents are required:
- Signed affidavit confirming that the grant has not been applied for before on any other building.
- Signed declaration of intention to make the property available for rent and that a tenancy will be registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) prior to grant drawdown. Tenancies will have to be registered and confirmed to the local authority annually for the 10 years after grant receipt, to avoid clawback of the grant.
Please ensure your application is complete as this greatly helps the swift processing of the application and the confirmation of your approval for the grant.
Please note that all works applied for through the Grant MUST be completed within 13 Months of receiving your approval letter.
For further information please contact:
Email: vacanthomes@galwaycity.ie