Grants for old and traditional houses in Ireland
An old house does not automatically qualify for a grant. Support depends on why the building qualifies: it may be vacant, derelict, traditional, protected, in an Architectural Conservation Area, or suitable for a particular energy upgrade.
Plain-English summary
For old or traditional houses, the main routes to check are the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, the Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Traditional Houses, the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Historic Structures Fund. SEAI energy grants may also be relevant, but traditional buildings often need a different technical approach to retrofit.
Which route might apply?
| Situation | Potential route | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| The house is old and has been vacant for the required period. | Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant | Age alone is not enough; vacancy and property rules apply. |
| The house is traditional and you need expert conservation advice. | Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Traditional Houses. | This supports advice, not the renovation works themselves. |
| The building is protected, proposed protected, vernacular, in an ACA or has a historic shopfront. | Built Heritage Investment Scheme. | Applications go through local authorities and the 2026 round is currently closed. |
| The project is a larger qualifying heritage conservation, refurbishment or reuse project. | Historic Structures Fund. | More specialised, with public, community or residential benefit requirements. |
| You want to improve energy performance. | SEAI home energy grants | Traditional buildings may need specialist conservation-sensitive advice. |
Vacant old house
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant may help if an old house is being brought back into use as a permanent home or rental property. Current official rules require proof that the property has been vacant for at least two years at the time of application and that it was built before 2008.
The current headline maximum is up to €50,000, with a derelict-property top-up of up to €20,000 where the property is confirmed as derelict.
Traditional vacant house or farmhouse
The Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Traditional Houses is a 2026 scheme for expert conservation advice. It can cover 67% of the cost of a conservation expert’s advice, up to a maximum grant of €5,000. The advice can include a visit, survey and tailored report.
The 2026 scheme is linked to owners of traditional houses who are availing of, or considering, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. From 2026, official guidance says the requirement for the house to be vacant has been removed, and the scheme has been broadened to include an allowance for fire-safety advice for multiple-occupancy units in traditional houses.
Stream 1 covers qualifying traditional houses in villages, towns and cities where the building is a protected structure or a historic structure within an Architectural Conservation Area. Stream 2 covers qualifying traditional farmhouses, including some vernacular farmhouses with no statutory protection. The 2026 application deadline shown by gov.ie was 5pm on 8 May 2026.
Built Heritage Investment Scheme
The Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2026 is for repair and conservation of qualifying built heritage. Current gov.ie guidance says grants of between €2,500 and €50,000 are available, and that the fund is administered through local authorities.
The 2026 scheme covers protected structures and incorporates streams for vernacular buildings, historic shopfronts and micro-grants for routine maintenance and minor repairs. Current gov.ie guidance says applications are now closed and, subject to funding, applications are expected to reopen in July 2026.
Historic Structures Fund
The Historic Structures Fund is different from BHIS. It is intended for larger qualifying conservation, refurbishment or reuse projects involving heritage structures. Current gov.ie guidance for 2026 says grants from €50,000 up to €200,000 are available, with a focus on projects that demonstrate a clear community, public or residential benefit.
Eligible structures can include protected structures, structures eligible or proposed for inclusion in the Record of Protected Structures, and certain structures or works within Architectural Conservation Areas or the amenity of a National Monument where exceptional circumstances apply. Current gov.ie guidance says applications are closed.
For smaller-scale protected-structure works, BHIS may be the more relevant route.
Can an old house also get SEAI grants?
An older or traditional building may still potentially qualify for SEAI energy-upgrade support, subject to the rules of the specific grant. SEAI guidance for individual grants notes that traditional or heritage buildings can have features such as solid masonry walls, single-glazed timber or metal windows, breathable construction and no damp-proof course.
SEAI’s current individual-grant guidance says homeowners of traditional homes can apply for attic insulation, heating controls, solar thermal and solar electricity PV, and directs wall-insulation retrofit for traditional homes to the Traditional Homes Pilot rather than the standard individual wall insulation grant. Do not treat this as specialist conservation advice; check SEAI and a suitably qualified professional before deciding on works.
FAQ
Can I get a grant just because my house is old?
No. Age alone is not normally enough. The property needs to fit the conditions of a real scheme, such as vacancy, dereliction, protected status, traditional-building advice or an energy-upgrade route.
What grant is available for a vacant old house?
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant may apply if the property meets the vacancy, age, ownership and use rules.
Is there a grant for a derelict cottage?
Possibly. A derelict cottage may be considered under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant with a derelict-property top-up if the official conditions are met.
Can a protected structure get a grant?
Potentially. The Built Heritage Investment Scheme or Historic Structures Fund may apply, depending on the scale, status and type of conservation work.
What is the Built Heritage Investment Scheme?
It is a local-authority administered scheme for repair and conservation of qualifying built heritage, including protected structures and certain vernacular or shopfront streams.
What is the Historic Structures Fund?
It is a more specialised fund for larger qualifying heritage projects, with current 2026 grants from €50,000 to €200,000 and public, community or residential benefit requirements.
Is there help with conservation advice?
Yes, the Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Traditional Houses can support expert advice costs for qualifying traditional houses.
Can an old house get SEAI grants?
Possibly. Some SEAI grants may apply, but traditional buildings need careful technical assessment and may not fit every standard retrofit measure.
Can I get grants for a traditional cottage?
Possibly, if the cottage fits a specific scheme such as vacant-property support, conservation advice, BHIS, HSF or certain SEAI routes.
Do heritage grants pay for normal modernisation?
Generally, heritage schemes focus on conservation and repair of historic fabric, not ordinary modernisation. Check the scheme’s qualifying and non-qualifying works before applying.
Official sources
Before you apply
This guide is general information only. Confirm the current rules, application status, eligible works and technical requirements with the official source, local authority or a qualified conservation professional before applying or starting work.