Croí Cónaithe (Towns Fund) – Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant

This scheme was introduced to help bring vacant and derelict properties back into use as family homes and rental residential units.

From 1 May 2023, the grant has increased to be 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. 

The Government has added additional levels of financial support through the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant to ease the cost for those who wish to turn vacant and derelict properties on the inhabited islands off the coast of Ireland into long-term homes. Under this measure, the existing grant ceilings will be increased up to a maximum of 20% in recognition of the additional costs involved in refurbishment on offshore islands (i.e. islands not connected to the mainland by road or bridge). 

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. You may be required to submit an affidavit swearing the property is vacant for over 2 years, relying on supporting documents.  A draft affidavit is available for download below.
• Proof that the property is Local Property Tax (LPT) compliant up to and including 2023.
• 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 at application stage and again 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.
• Please check on the link below to see if your property is in an Architectural Conservation Area, or on the NIAH, or a preserved structure. In these cases, you should contact the Architectural Conservation Office in Cork City Council to see if planning is required or not before any renovation is begun.  They will also advise you if there are any further grants available to you, based on the property’s heritage and historic value.

https://corkcity.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=e4af482c8da547de9f1689eba346a1ed

Applications should be submitted to vacantproperties@corkcity.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.

The draft affidavit is available below.

For further information please contact:

Email: vacantproperties@corkcity.ie