What is the Vacant Homes Grant as people nab up to €70,000 to do up old houses?

Ever wondered how people are transforming seemingly unliveable, derelict houses into homes? 

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant allows you to do just that, offering people up to €70,000 to renovate vacant and derelict houses.

It can also be used to redo properties that are derelict but have not been used as residential properties before.

You can get a grant of up to €50,000 to renovate a vacant property and up to €70,000 if the property is derelict.

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You can apply for the grant through your local authority, if you are eligible for it.

To be eligible, the following criteria must be met: 

• The property must have been vacant for at least 2 years immediately before the date you apply for the grant. You will not qualify if the property has been left purposely vacant so you can get the grant.
• The property must have been built before 2008.
• You must own the property or be in the process of buying it.
• You must live in the property as your principal private residence when the work is completed or make it available for rent.
• If you are going to rent the property when the work is done, you must register the tenancy with the Residential Tenancies Board.
• You must have tax clearance from Revenue and your tax affairs must be in order.
• You must have paid your Local Property Tax, if applicable.
• You must not be a registered company or developer.

To apply, you will also need a number of supporting documents. 

These include proof that the property has been vacant for over two years, proof you own it or are in the process of buying it, and a quote for the required work.

You can get the grant twice - once to refurbish a home you will live in and again to refurbish a home you will then rent out. 

If the required works cost more than what the grant offers, you will have to pay the balance.

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If you are living on an off-shore island, you can get up to €84,000 to renovate a derelict building or up to €60,000 for a vacant property.

The grant will only cover certain types of works, a list of which can be found on the Citizen's Information website.

Some of those include demolition works, substructure works such as damp-proofing, upgraded doors and windows, roof completions, painting, and kitchen units. 

The grant does not cover completely demolishing a property and rebuilding a new one.

If you get the grant and move into the property but decide to move out less than 10 years later, you will have to pay the local authority that leant you the money back. 

The same applies if it is not available for rent within 10 years.