Home improvement and renovation grants in Ireland
There is no single general “home improvement grant” in Ireland. Support is available through different schemes depending on the work, the property, household circumstances and whether the home is vacant, older, energy-inefficient or needs adaptation.
Plain-English summary
If you are improving or renovating a home in Ireland, start by matching the work to the right grant route. Energy upgrades normally sit with SEAI. Vacant and derelict property grants go through local authorities. Disability, mobility and older-person repair grants also go through local authorities. Heritage and traditional-building supports have separate conservation rules.
Which home improvement grant might apply?
| What you need to do | Potential route | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Improve insulation, windows, heating, solar or energy efficiency. | SEAI home energy grants. | SEAI grants |
| Renovate a property that has been vacant for the required period. | Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. | Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant |
| Make substantial home changes because of a disability. | Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People. | Housing Adaptation Grant |
| Add ramps, stairlifts, accessible showers or other basic mobility works. | Mobility Aids Grant. | Mobility Aids Grant |
| Carry out essential repairs or improvements for an older person. | Housing Aid for Older People. | Housing Aid for Older People |
| Repair a traditional, protected, historic or vernacular building. | Heritage, conservation or advice schemes may apply. | Grants for old and traditional houses |
Matching one of these descriptions does not mean you qualify. Each scheme has its own conditions, approval process and eligible costs.
Grants for energy improvements
SEAI currently provides several routes for upgrading home energy performance. Individual energy upgrades may suit one or more measures such as attic insulation, wall insulation, windows and doors, heating controls, heat pumps, solar PV and solar thermal. A One Stop Shop may suit a complete home energy upgrade. The Warmer Homes Scheme may provide fully funded energy upgrades for qualifying homeowners who receive certain welfare payments and whose homes are suitable after survey.
How do you apply for a home energy upgrade grant?
For individual SEAI grants, applicants generally need grant approval before starting qualifying work. You can apply directly and use SEAI registered contractors, or use a One Stop Shop where the provider manages the upgrade and grant process on your behalf.
Grants for renovating a vacant or derelict home
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant can help if you are turning a qualifying vacant house or building into your permanent home or a rental property. Current official guidance says you need proof of ownership or active negotiations to buy, proof that the property has been vacant for at least two years at application, and proof that it was built before 2008.
The headline grant is currently up to €50,000 for a vacant property. If the property is confirmed as derelict, a top-up of up to €20,000 may bring the total to €70,000. Applications are administered by the local authority where the property is located.
Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant: amounts and eligibility
Converting vacant commercial space into a home
Separate 2026 supports now exist for some vacant commercial or public-use buildings and above-shop spaces. Current gov.ie guidance includes a Vacant Above the Shop Grant for converting vacant space above a commercial premises into residential use, where the commercial element remains. It also describes extra top-ups where an entire former commercial or public-use building is converted into more than one residential unit, and an Expert Advice Grant of up to €5,000 for professional advice on conversion.
These are specific vacancy and conversion supports, not a general renovation grant. Check the current local-authority process before buying or starting works.
Are any home improvement grants completely free?
Some programmes may cover 100% of approved qualifying work in certain circumstances. Examples may include the Warmer Homes Scheme, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Adaptation Grant, depending on eligibility, income assessment, approved costs and the work being accepted by the scheme.
It is better not to think of these as “free money”. Assessments may apply, not every proposed item will qualify, and you generally need local-authority or SEAI approval before work begins.
What home improvement grants come through your council?
Irish local authorities administer several important national schemes. These include the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, Mobility Aids Grant, Housing Aid for Older People and Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. National frameworks set the broad scheme rules, but applications and local checks usually go through the relevant local authority.
Home improvement grants for older people
There is not one generic “pensioner home improvement grant”. The right route depends on the need. Housing Aid for Older People may help with necessary repairs or improvements. Mobility Aids Grant may help with basic mobility works. Housing Adaptation Grant may be relevant where substantial disability adaptations are needed. SEAI grants and Warmer Homes may be relevant for energy upgrades where the home and household meet the conditions.
Grants for disability and mobility adaptations
The Housing Adaptation Grant is for larger or substantial disability adaptations. The Mobility Aids Grant is for a basic suite of mobility works, such as ramps, stairlifts, accessible showers and grab rails. Housing Aid for Older People is more about necessary repairs and improvements for an older person’s home, rather than being primarily a disability adaptation grant.
Grants for old, traditional or protected houses
An old house does not qualify for a grant just because it is old. Support depends on why the building qualifies: it may be vacant, derelict, protected, traditional, vernacular, in an Architectural Conservation Area, or suitable for a specific energy upgrade route.
Official sources
Before you apply
This guide is general information only. Confirm the current rules, amounts, eligible costs and application process with the official source before applying, starting work or signing a contract.
Are there home improvement grants if you receive social welfare?
There is no generic social-welfare home-improvement payment simply because someone receives welfare. However, qualifying welfare payments can matter for specific schemes. The main example is the SEAI Warmer Homes Scheme, where eligible owner-occupiers on qualifying welfare payments may receive fully funded energy upgrades if all scheme conditions are met and the home is suitable after survey.
SEAI also introduced enhanced support for particular individual insulation upgrades for some homeowners on qualifying welfare payments, subject to the grant rules.
Warmer Homes Scheme