Tackling vacant homes
To make more homes in Ireland available for people to live in, there are measures aimed at making vacant housing and/or vacant sites that are zoned for residential use available for housing.
In this section
Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant
If you want to turn a vacant property into a home a Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is available to go towards the cost of refurbishing it so you can live in it or rent it out.
A grant of up to €50,000 is available for vacant properties and up to €70,000 for derelict properties.
To qualify, the property must have been vacant for at least two years and it must have been built before 2008. You must also be able to show that you own the property or are in the process of buying it. Once the refurbishments are complete, you must live in the property as your principal private residence or make it available to rent. If you rent it out you must register the tenancy with the Residential Tenancies Board.
To find out more about the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and download application forms, visit gov.ie/vacancy.
Repair and leasing
If you own a property that has been vacant for at least one year and is need of repairs to bring it up to the required standard for renting, you may be eligible for the Repair and Leasing Scheme.
If the property is suitable for social housing, local authorities can pay up-front for repairs when the owner agrees to lease it to the local authority for between 5 and 25 years. The cost of the repairs is offset against the agreed lease rental payment until the value of the works is repaid.
There are lots of benefits for property owners including guaranteed rental income.
To find out more about the Repair and Leasing Scheme, visit gov.ie/vacancy.
Buy and Renew Scheme
Local authorities can also purchase empty residential properties that are in need of repair under the Buy and Renew scheme and undertake the repairs after purchase. This scheme applies to properties that have been long-term vacant or are derelict.
To find out more about the Buy and Renew Scheme, visit gov.ie/vacancy.
Identifying vacant homes
Identifying vacant homes is an important step in bringing homes back into use. If you are aware or suspect that a house is vacant, you can report this to your local authority through the VacantHomes.ie portal. The local authority will follow up to investigate if the property is vacant and to work with the owners to bring it back into use.