Vacant Property Grants
If you own — or are buying — a property in Kerry that has stood empty for two years or more, you may be able to get a grant to bring it back into use as a permanent home.
Funding available
• Up to €50,000 to refurbish a vacant home
• Up to €70,000 if the property is derelict
• €70,000 to €110,000 to convert a former commercial or public building into two or more homes
• €95,000 to €135,000 to convert vacant space above a shop into homes
• Up to €5,000 towards professional advice, for above the shop and commercial conversions only
What the grants are for
These grants exist to bring empty properties back into use as permanent homes — either a home you will live in yourself, or a home you will rent out on a registered tenancy. They are not available for holiday homes, for short-term or holiday letting, or for a property that will be used occasionally.
Which grant do I need?
Each grant has its own application form and its own conditions. Choose the one that matches your building.
 Vacant Property Refurbishment GrantUp to €70,000 |
 Conversion of Commercial or Public Buildings€70,000 to €110,000 |
 Vacant Above the Shop Grant€95,000 to €135,000 |
 Expert Advice GrantUp to €5,000 |
Check before you apply
Most applications that run into difficulty do so on one of these points. It is worth reading them carefully before you start.
| Condition | What this means |
| The property must have been genuinely empty for two years | The property must have been unoccupied for at least two full years immediately before the date you apply — not the date you are approved. A property that has been in occasional use is not vacant for the purposes of these grants. That includes a holiday home or a property let out for short stays. Evidence must be supplied covering the whole two-year period. |
| Evidence of vacancy | Local Property Tax correspondence and ESB bills covering the full two years are what we normally look for. Utility bills should show that the property was not in use, rather than simply that an account existed. |
| Built before 2008 | The building must have been constructed up to and including 2007, and you must be able to evidence that. |
| You must own it, or be buying it | Proof of ownership — your Land Registry folio, or the deeds — or evidence that you are in active negotiations to buy. Applications can only be made by named individuals, not by registered companies. |
| Tax clearance | You must be able to produce a current tax clearance certificate, and so must every contractor and service provider you pay out of the grant. Your tax clearance must still be valid at the point the grant is paid, not only when you apply. This catches people out, so it is worth checking early. |
| Do not start work first | Works carried out before your application is approved cannot be funded. Wait for written approval. |
How to apply
You are welcome to email the Vacant Homes Office before you apply. You do not have to, but if you are unsure whether the property qualifies or which form you need, a short email can save you a lot of time. We also hold information workshops around the county through the year — these are advertised on Kerry County Council’s social media channels.
- Check and prepare. Gather proof that the property has been vacant for two years, proof of ownership such as your folio, proof that the building was built before 2008, and a quotation for the proposed works. For a derelict property you will also need an independent report confirming it is structurally unsound and dangerous, or confirmation that it is on the Derelict Sites Register.
- Complete the correct application form. Download the form for your scheme from the boxes below and complete it in full. Incomplete forms are the biggest cause of delay.
- Send it to us by email, to vacanthomes@kerrycoco.ie.
- We assess and inspect. We check your documents and arrange an inspection of the property. We may come back to you for further information.
- Approval, then works. You will receive a written decision. Once approved, you have 18 months to complete the works.
- Draw down the grant. The grant is paid on completion of the works, once we have verified them and received your receipts and invoices. Your tax clearance, and that of everyone you have paid, must be in order at this point. Keep every invoice and receipt.
Vacant Property Refurbishment GrantUp to €70,000 for one home
For refurbishing a single vacant or derelict house or building into one home, to live in yourself or to rent out. Up to €50,000 for a property that has been vacant for two years or more. If the property is confirmed to be derelict — structurally unsound and dangerous, or already on the Derelict Sites Register — a top-up of up to €20,000 brings the maximum to €70,000. You can hold a maximum of two grants: one for a property that will be your principal private residence, and one for a property you will rent out with a tenancy registered with the Residential Tenancies Board. Leagan Gaeilge | Irish language version |
Conversion of a former commercial or public building€70,000 to €110,000 for two or more homes For converting an entire former shop, pub, bank or public building into two or more homes. This is the Refurbishment Grant with an additional top-up: up to €20,000 where two homes are created, or up to €40,000 where three or more are created. It uses a different application form from the standard Refurbishment Grant, and using the wrong form will delay your application. Maximum grant for a conversion: Documents
Application form — conversion of a former commercial or public use building (gov.ie) Scheme outline (gov.ie – PDF — the same outline as the Refurbishment Grant) Leagan Gaeilge | Irish language version |
Vacant Above the Shop GrantUp to €95,000 to €135,000 for one or more homes.
For converting or refurbishing vacant space above a shop or other commercial premises into homes, where the business downstairs stays in commercial use. Up to €95,000 for the first home created, a further €20,000 for a second, and a further €20,000 where three or more are created — a maximum of €135,000 per building. The space above the shop must have been vacant for two years or more. The commercial unit downstairs may be vacant or in use, but it must remain in commercial use. Sole traders can apply; registered companies cannot. Documents
Leagan Gaeilge | Irish language version |
Expert Advice GrantUp to €5,000 towards a professional report
Towards a report from a suitably qualified professional — an architect, engineer or surveyor — to help you work out what an above the shop or commercial conversion would involve before you commit to it. The grant cannot exceed 67% of the cost of the report including VAT. The professional you engage must also be able to produce a current tax clearance certificate. This grant is only available for above the shop conversions and for former commercial or public buildings being converted into two or more homes. It is not available for a standard Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
Documents
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Other supports you may be able to use
Planning permission exemptions for refurbishing vacant property (gov.ie page)
Contact the Vacant Homes Office
If you are not sure whether your property qualifies, or which form you need, email us before you apply. We would rather answer a question early than send an application back. Email means we have a written record of what you asked and what we told you, which protects both of us if a query arises later.
We also hold information workshops around the county through the year. Watch Kerry County Council’s social media channels for dates and venues.
Email: vacanthomes@kerrycoco.ie
Grant conditions are set by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and may change. The scheme outlines and application forms linked above are the authoritative versions.