The fastest and most sustainable way to increase housing supply is to reuse existing vacant properties. In 2022, more than 2,300 vacant social homes were returned to active use. There is a range of schemes available to turn vacant properties into homes.
- The Living City Initiative is a tax incentive scheme for Special Regeneration Areas. Tax relief can be claimed for money spent on refurbishing or converting residential or commercial properties.
- Croí Cónaithe provides a grant of €30,000 for the refurbishment of a vacant property and €50,000 for derelict properties.
- The Help to Buy scheme is an incentive for first time property purchasers. It will help applicants with the deposit needed to purchase or self build a new house or apartment.
- The Repair and Leasing Scheme is targeted at owners of vacant properties who cannot afford or who do not have access to the funding required to bring those properties up to the standard for rental property.
- The Buy and Renew Scheme helps local authorities in purchasing or renewing units in need of repair and making them available for social housing
- The €150 million Urban Regeneration and Development Fund is designed to address long term vacancy and dereliction across Urban Regeneration and Development Fund cities and towns.
