Housing Aid for Older People Grant
The Housing Aid for Older People Grant helps people aged 66 or over carry out necessary repairs or improvements so they can continue living in their own home. The current maximum is EUR10,700 and the grant is means-tested.
Direct answer
This is not a general renovation grant. It is intended for necessary repairs or improvements to make an older person's home habitable for their lifetime. Local authorities administer the scheme and can consider people under 66 only in hardship cases.
Key facts
- Normal age requirement: 66 or over.
- Maximum grant: EUR10,700.
- Grant rate: up to 100% of approved costs in the lowest income band.
- No grant is payable where assessable household income is over EUR75,000.
- The grant can go towards approved work including VAT.
How much can you get?
| Assessable income | Percentage of approved costs | Maximum grant |
|---|---|---|
| Up to EUR37,500 | 100% | EUR10,700 |
| EUR37,501 to EUR43,750 | 85% | EUR9,095 |
| EUR43,751 to EUR50,000 | 75% | EUR8,025 |
| EUR50,001 to EUR62,500 | 50% | EUR5,350 |
| EUR62,501 to EUR75,000 | 30% | EUR3,210 |
| Over EUR75,000 | No grant payable | No grant payable |
Applicable disregards and deductions can reduce the income figure used in the assessment. The grant is limited by the approved cost, the percentage for the income band and the maximum for that band.
What work can it cover?
Official and local-authority guidance frames the grant around necessary repairs or improvements. Examples include essential structural repairs such as roof repairs, electrical rewiring, heating repairs or provision, and other work the local authority considers necessary to keep the home suitable.
Some local authority guidance also refers to windows and doors where they form part of necessary repair work, but this should not be treated as a general window-replacement grant.
Special documents for certain repairs
| Work type | Document commonly required |
|---|---|
| Roof repair or replacement | A letter from the property owner's insurance company stating that the repair is not covered by the policy. |
| Electrical wiring | A Periodic Inspection Report from a Safe Electric-registered electrician describing the condition of the wiring. |
| Heating repair or provision | A report from a heating contractor describing the condition of the existing heating system. Local guidance notes that grants are not available to buy new fossil-fuel boilers for applications approved on or after 1 January 2025. |
Medical certificate
The medical requirements differ from the disability and mobility grants. A doctor's certificate is not normally the core requirement for ordinary Housing Aid for Older People repairs, but a local authority may ask for medical information where priority or urgent circumstances are relevant.
How to apply
- Get the current form from your local authority.
- Complete the household, property and income sections.
- Gather proof of income and any documents for disregards or deductions.
- Get itemised quotations.
- Attach specialist reports for roof, electrical or heating works where relevant.
- Provide evidence of Local Property Tax compliance.
- Submit the application to the local authority.
- Wait for assessment and approval before starting grant-funded work.
- Complete approved work and follow inspection and payment requirements.
FAQ
How much is the Housing Aid for Older People Grant?
Up to EUR10,700, depending on assessable income and approved costs.
What age do you need to be?
The grant is for people aged 66 or over, although under-66 hardship cases can sometimes be considered.
Is it means-tested?
Yes. The grant rate and maximum depend on assessable household income.
Can it pay for roof repairs?
Possibly. Roof repairs are a common example, with insurance confirmation usually required.
Can it pay for rewiring?
Possibly. Electrical work normally requires a report from a Safe Electric-registered electrician.
Can it pay for heating repairs?
Possibly, where the local authority approves the work and required reports are provided.
Can it pay for new windows?
Only where windows or doors are accepted as necessary repair work. It is not a general windows grant.
Do I need a doctor's certificate?
Not normally for standard older-person repair works, but medical information may be relevant for priority or hardship.
Can someone under the normal age limit ever qualify?
Sometimes, but only in hardship cases assessed by the local authority.
Can I apply if I rent?
Ask your local authority. Tenure and permission requirements matter, and the council will decide whether the scheme fits your case.
Apply through your local authority
These grants are administered by local authorities. Use the national information to understand the scheme, then get the current form and local submission details from the council for the area where the home is located.
Official sources
Before you apply
This guide is general information only. Confirm the current rules with your local authority or the official source before applying, starting work or signing a contract.