Vacant and derelict property refurbishment grant scheme-all you need to know | August 2023

Hi Terry, we bought and moved into our house last May 2023. The property had been vacant for more than 2 years prior to our purchase. I have only now become aware of the grant? Have I any claim on a grant for refurb? Thx

My grant application was applied for on day 1, November 22, and I'm still waiting to be paid; the grant is approved, passed the first and second inspections, agreed to all terms and conditions and provided all information needed. That was 14 months ago; during this process, the rate went from 30k to 50k, and when I asked for the additional 20k, which I was entitled to, they told me no, I'm still not sure when I will receive the grant. I've paid 120k on renovations; that 30k would have come in handy 1 year ago; the council takes ages to process.

Is this grant available for Irish citizens who live in the uk but want to relocate back to Ireland? Thank you

Hi Terry, I own and live in a small cottage and own a old 200yr derelict building directly beside this house. My aim is to extend into this building and thought I'd enquire if I could be considered for the grant? I know it's a long shot but nothing ventured. Thank you

Terry ive bought a house in dowra . Have you ever dealt with anyone who has no money as its tied up in paying for the house. But i believe and am hopeful regarding the grants and am looking forward to making it my home. I need to know will the grants cover me being able to live in it. Its derelict. Soo im truly hopeful as ive no spare money.

Also can u can get the vacant grant and the energy grant togther

Can you use the grant to live and then later change ro rent? Or whats the rules around this

Terry, do you have to be an Irish citizen to qualify for a grant?

terry please can you tell me if a trust would be ok to buy the property and get the grant,my parents left me some money in a vunrable persons trust,the trust is in my name, eg paul richardson vunrable persons trust, the trust would buy and be the property owner ,who would apply for the grant ?,would the trust by the trustee, if thats ok, or the grant could be applied for by me, but i would only have a right to reside there , the trust would own the property ? ,but i would live there for the 10 year rule/the rest of my life
my family would also thank you!!

This all sounds well and good but am I right in thinking you don’t get the money up front? I thought you had to pay for it out your own pocket first then you get the money back at the end? 🤔

Great info!

Massive help! We are currently purchasing a property and are applying for the grant and this has helped us. Thankyou.

Terry can the works be split as in part completion from ourselves an part through a qualified renovating company? Also with regards to paying the contractors - once they finish do the council then pay them and we would claim back the deposit made to the contractors or would we the owners have to pay the contractors 50 - 70k upfront to then claim that cost back from the grant scheme?

and not one fucking person will get it . that much bullshit and hoops to jumps through as usual its just a show too try to make lrelands politicians look not as bent and crooked as rhey are.

Again too much red tape and locked in for 10 years. Thanks Terry for your clear explanation .

Thanks for the video, can the property be rented out as a holiday home (Airbnb) or rented to a company.

It would be great if the money was allocated in stages, as the work was been done. It would definitely encourage more people to avail of the scheme. If works have to be completed within a 12 month period, why not advance money quarterly, subject to works completed.

Yep and I’m totally screwed now, because although I’ve been approved the grant, I can’t find a lender. Why? Because I can’t open a bank account? Why? Because I live in tied rent free, bills paid accommodation and a bank requires a utility bill. So basically I can kiss goodbye to the €70k grant and I now own a derelict home with no money to do it up.

Thanks Terry, would you qualify for grant if the house was built in 2003 but unfinished? House never lived in no plumbing and electricity complete etc.

Hi Terry, great video! If there is a derelict house can you knock it and just build a new property on the site or do you actually have to renovate it? If you knock it and build a new one do you still qualify for the grant? Thanks!

Thanks for the video Terry, very informative.

Do you know if planning permission is required if you are refurbishing a derelict house but not adding any extensions? i.e. the existing building shell or footprint would remain. thanks

Great video Terry, can I ask (as I, have heard conflicting answers on this) but can you apply and draw down the grant without a contractor? i.e. can a self builder do the works themselves without a builder and still claim the grant at the end?

Thanks a mill Terry.

I'm looking at a 2 bed house built 1999 needs refurbishment house is probate and empty since 2015 but niece has stayed in the house on occasion while on holiday. Would this still qualify for the grant....

Excellent and very informative.

Terry there was a programme on tv few weeks back said only a handful of people have received this grant dispite the amount of applications

It would be better if the grant went towards demolition and you could build new. A 1950's house or older would swallow E50,000. It would still be a old house.

As per rte programme, difficult; over complicated scheme that is not user friendly. Avoid if possible.

Thank you so much Terry. This is very i formative.🙂

Thanks Terry. It should be noted that even though you can apply for two separate grants (one house to live in and one to rent), if you only wish to renovate one property, and rent it out for the first few years (less than 5) and then need to live there as your principle residence, you will have to repay all of the grant back to the local authority. In my opinion this is a significant hole in the scheme, as there are also other scenario's where the home owner does not wish to sell the property but may need to change its usage from rented to lived in and vice versa.

Not much good for first time buyers in that they have to cough up the money up front.

I understand you need either Planning permission or an Exemption from planning certificate. You will have to apply to the council for either if you don't have planning permission - even of it is an old house built before 1964.

You wouldn’t get much work done for €50k. People would have to borrow - will it be a second charge on the property?

Wondering would I have to have money up front & then get the grant as refund ? Just had a look on your web page but cannot find anything reference to this. Hoping you can advise

Thanks a million .What happens if the work takes longer than the 13 months?