Grants and supports for homeowners

Mobility Aids Grant

Local authorities can provide grant aid for minor works to address mobility problems in privately owned homes.

The Mobility Aids Grant allows for the purchase and installation of grab-rails, level access showers, access ramps and stair-lifts and other necessary minor works.

This grant is available only to those with a household income of less than €30,000 per year. The maximum grant available is €6,000, which may cover 100% of the cost of the work.

Housing Adaptation Grant

A housing adaptation grant may be provided where changes need to be made to a home to make it suitable for a person with a physical, sensory, or intellectual disability or mental health difficulty.

The types of works allowed under the scheme include the provision of access ramps, downstairs toilet facilities, stair lifts, accessible showers, wheelchair access, and other works considered necessary.

If annual household income is less than €30,000, 95% of the cost of the works (up to the maximum grant amount of €30,000) could be grant aided. The proportion of the costs aided will be tapered from 95% down to 30%, for those with annual household incomes of €50,001 to €60,000.

Housing Aid for Older People

The Housing Aid for Older people scheme is used to improve the condition of an older person’s home through repair or improvement works. It is aimed at people aged 66+ living in poor housing conditions.

The types of works grant aided under the Scheme include structural repairs or improvements, for example, re-roofing, re-wiring, drylining, and other repair or improvement work considered necessary.

If annual household income is less than €30,000, 95% of the cost of the works (up €8,000) could be grant aided. The proportion of the costs to be grant aided will be tapered from 95% down to 30% for those with annual household incomes of €50,001 to €60,000.

Improvement works in lieu of social housing 

The Improvement Works in Lieu of social housing scheme (IWILS) allows local authorities to improve or extend privately owned accommodation, where the applicant has been approved for social housing and the improvement works would allow them to remain in privately owned accommodation instead of social housing. 

If you qualify, the local authority will carry out works to adapt the house or to provide extra bedrooms. The local authority will pay the full cost of the works carried out and you will then pay a charge to the local authority for a maximum of 15 years. The charge will be worked out in a similar way to the differential rent scheme for local authority rents, so it is based on your ability to pay.

Local Authority Home Improvement Loan 

Some local authorities may provide loans to homeowners towards the cost of necessary works to improve, repair or extend their existing houses. 

You may be eligible for a local authority home improvement loan if: 

• You cannot get a loan from a bank or building society 
• Your house needs to be improved, repaired or extended due to overcrowding, and your income is below a certain threshold
• You are registered on a housing waiting list with a local authority
• You are a local authority tenant or a tenant purchaser and you want to buy a private house and return your present house to the local authority
• You are a tenant for more than one year of a home provided by a housing association under the Rental Subsidy Scheme and you want to buy a private house and return your present house to the local authority.

Lead pipe replacement grant 

If your home has lead pipes and plumbing that need to be replaced, your local authority may be able to offer a grant to help with the cost. 

To be eligible you must own the property and live in it as your principal private residence and you must show evidence of a risk of lead contamination in your home.

The grant provides 100% of costs up to €5,000 to replace lead pipes that carry drinking water within your home. It’s not means tested, and it’s available whether you receive your water from a public or a private water supplier.

Contact your local authority for more information. 

Ground rent purchase

If your home was purchased from a local authority and you want to purchase the ground rent on the property, you can contact your local authority.