Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant: Croí Cónaithe

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched on 14 July 2022 and benefits those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence. When the grant was launched, vacant properties in towns and villages were included. The grant was expanded in November 2022 to include eligible vacant properties in cities, towns, villages and rural parts of the country.

From 1 May 2023, the grant is being further expanded to provide for applications for one property which will be made available for rent, in addition to one property which will be a principal private residence of the owner. A maximum of two grants will be available to an applicant. Only one grant will be available for a vacant property being made available for rent.

From 1 May 2023, a grant 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, including the conversion of properties which have not been used as residential heretofore3 , subject to appropriate planning permission being in place.

This is subject to upper limits for the types of work, (listed on Application Form) having regard to a reasonable cost assessment by Wexford County Council. 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 €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.

The objective of the grant scheme is to bring existing vacant homes back into use.
New builds are not eligible for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
While demolition and extension works can form part of an application for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, such works must be part of a wider refurbishment of the existing dwelling in keeping with the objectives of the scheme. The applicant cannot demolish the full structure.

Criteria Required for each Application

The applicant must provide evidence that the property has be vacant for 2 years.
- See list of potential items to prove vacancy –
  - ESB bills,
  - ESB connection/disconnection letter,
  - Letter from estate agent (on headed paper),
  - Sworn affidavit from neighbour or previous owner.
    - Please note that an applicant cannot leave a property unreasonably and purposely vacant for the purpose of qualifying for the grant.
Proof of Ownership
- Confirmation letter from solicitor will suffice if still negotiating / transferring property into your name but the grant will not be paid out until proof of ownership has been confirmed. A Certified copy of the Title Deed with letter from solicitor confirming there are no prior charges or burdens on title (save and except a current home mortgage which is permitted) is required.
Properties considered for inclusion must be built up to and including 2007 – Evidence of this maybe required.
- New builds are not eligible for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
Applicant must be tax compliant – Tax clearance cert required can be obtained from Revenue.
- See instructions - Go to your "My Revenue" account. At the bottom of the page, under the heading Manage My Record, click Tax clearance. Follow the instructions and where it says purpose of tax clearance, click grant. It will ask you what type of grant, click 'other grant' and insert Local County Council Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. It will then ask you to confirm your details and sign and submit. It will then send you your tax clearance in "My Enquiries" section.
Local Property Tax must be paid on the property.
- LPT Statement - see instruction on how to retrieve from revenue website LPT (revenue.ie). You will need your PPS number, unique property ID and pin. When you log in, click on the view payment history button and scroll down to the bottom of the page and there is an option to Print Detailed Statement.
- If you have recently purchased the property and do not have the property ID, the application can be approved in principle with a confirmation letter from a solicitor confirming the LPT has been paid and is up to date.
The Structural Report (€20,000 top up grant)
- The person undertaking the report must be a Chartered Building Surveyor or a Chartered Structural Engineer. The report must outline the structural issues with the property.
- They are also required to supply their Professional Indemnity Insurance.
If the property is a protected structure, the applicant must contact the Planning Department informing them of the intended works and the planning department will advise what the process is. Click here for relevant information relating to protected structures.
Provide quotes for works
- Depending on how the applicant intends to carry out the works (carrying out the work themselves or engage a builder / contractor) quotes will be required from builders/contractors. If you’re undertaking the works yourself an itemised breakdown of the costs will be required.
  - See below examples of generally what level of information is required on supplied quotes.
    - Plumbing – New Oil Condensing burner, New Oil Tank and stand, replumb entire property with hot and cold water supply, install sanitaryware for 2 bathrooms (sanitary supply by others), supply & install 13 radiators, new hot water cylinder - €10,000
    - Internal Walls – Supply & fit 62.5mm EPS insulated plaster boards to the internal side of external walls – 150m2 - €10,000.
Contractor must be tax compliant – All contractors must be VAT registered - Tax reference & tax clearance details required.

Application Process

Wexford County Council will:

check the application form to ensure it is fully completed, has been signed and that the required supporting documents have been submitted;
assess the application in line with the conditions of the scheme;
where the application is in order and required supporting documentation is provided, arrange for suitable technical staff to visit the property to check the works applied for are in order and assess the projected costs as set out in the application form;
write to the applicant to let them know if the application has been approved and the level of grant which has been approved;
If you are availing of the Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan (LAPR) to purchase and renovate, or renovate only this property, you will be required, as a condition of that loan, to sign a Grant Payment Authority letter authorising payment of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant directly to the section of the local authority dealing with mortgage lending.

Prior to the grant being paid:

in cases where approval in principle was granted, proof of ownership must be provided before the grant can be paid and
in respect of a property that is being made available to rent, evidence that the applicant has registered the tenancy with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) is required.
Wexford County Council will require evidence such as appropriately detailed invoice(s) for the completed works.
Wexford County Council will conduct a final property visit to review that the work has been completed in-line with grant application and as vouched in the invoiced documentation provided.
Once Wexford County Council is satisfied, the grant will be paid.

Application Form - Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant

FAQs - Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant

Scheme Outline - Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant

Updated 13.09.2024

Types of work covered

The following categories of works will be eligible for grant assistance, subject to a reasonable cost assessment by Wexford County Council and to any limits for specific works as may be set out in guidance from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage:

Substructure works, including works to foundations, rising walls, floor slabs, damp-proofing and underpinning
Structural works to superstructure, including walls, party walls, chimneys, suspended timber floors, structural timbers
Works to internal walls, stairs, and landings, and internal wall completions including doors, windows, and applied finishes
External walls completions including doors, windows, sills, and applied finishes
Roof completions, including flashings, fascia's, soffits, gutters, downpipes
Building services including plumbing, heating, ventilation, electrical services, telecommunications,
Painting and decoration required because of works carried out
Extension within the ambit of exempt development under planning regulations, as part of a wider refurbishment
Necessary external works and site development works carried out within the curtilage of the site
Professional services associated with works

New builds are not eligible for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
While demolition and extension works can form part of an application for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, such works must be part of a wider refurbishment of the existing dwelling in keeping with the objectives of the scheme. The applicant cannot demolish the full structure.

Proof of both vacancy and ownership will be required to support the grant payment. Wexford County Council 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.

Any enquiries in relation to the Croí Cónaithe Fund should be directed to the Council’s Vacant Homes Office at (053) 9196036 or via e-mail to vacanthomes@wexfordcoco.ie.