Grants stacking playbook
Orientation only — not eligibility advice. Always confirm with the local authority and official scheme pages before you buy or start works.
Buying a derelict or vacant home
Being on the derelict sites register does not mean a property is for sale. For official guidance on buying and renovating vacant or derelict homes in Ireland, start with Citizens Information:
- Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan — government-backed loan to buy and renovate a derelict or uninhabitable home (when you qualify for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and cannot get enough commercial finance)
- Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant — up to €50,000 vacant / €70,000 derelict
- Vacant homes — schemes, CPO context, and how vacant stock is brought back into use
- Derelict sites — register, 7% levy, and compulsory purchase rules
Usual stack order
- Confirm vacancy / dereliction and title
- Talk to the Vacant Homes / Derelict Sites team at the council
- Apply for Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant if eligible
- Check Croí Cónaithe / town schemes where relevant
- Layer SEAI energy upgrades once the works package is clear
First-time buyer · vacant / derelict home
Start with the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant (VPRG) via your local authority — up to €50,000 vacant / €70,000 derelict when eligible. Check Croí Cónaithe (Towns) if the property sits in a designated town. Layer SEAI Better Energy Home / deep retrofit supports after you lock the works scope.
Inherited wreck
Confirm ownership and probate first. Then treat like any vacant purchase: VPRG eligibility depends on vacancy length and bringing the home back to use as your principal private residence (or qualifying rental paths where schemes allow). Budget for BER works early — derelict stock often fails minimum standards.
Flat above the shop
Many town-centre units qualify for vacant-homes supports plus local living-over-the-shop programmes. Confirm planning exemptions / change of use with the council before you spend on fit-out. VPRG and SEAI can still apply when the residential unit was vacant long enough.
Protected structure
Expect heritage constraints. Check the Record of Protected Structures and talk to the council conservation officer before strip-out. Grants may still apply, but eligible works and methods are narrower — build that into cost and timeline.
Rural derelict cottage
VPRG still applies outside towns when vacancy/dereliction criteria are met. Septic, access, and planning for extensions are the usual blockers. Use the council Vacant Homes Officer as the first call after you confirm title.
Investor / builder flipping a derelict
Many residential vacant-home grants require owner-occupation or specific letting conditions. Do not assume VPRG stacks on a pure flip. Focus on levy pressure, CPO risk, and works cost — then verify any commercial or LA schemes separately.