SEAI Home Energy Upgrade Grant
Ireland's largest energy retrofit programme. Covering insulation, heat pumps, solar panels, windows and doors — the SEAI Better Energy Homes grant funds a complete home energy transformation.
SEAI energy upgrades · Vacant property · Help to Buy · Disability adaptation
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Ireland's largest energy retrofit programme. Covering insulation, heat pumps, solar panels, windows and doors — the SEAI Better Energy Homes grant funds a complete home energy transformation.
A landmark scheme to bring vacant and derelict properties back into use. Available for properties vacant for 2 or more years anywhere in Ireland, to be used as your principal private residence.
A Revenue tax rebate for first-time buyers purchasing or self-building a new property. Claim back income tax and DIRT paid over the previous 4 years — directly into your new home purchase.
Three separate grants from your local authority: the Housing Adaptation Grant (up to €30,000), the Mobility Aids Grant (up to €6,000) and the Housing Aid for Older Persons (up to €8,000).
Convert vacant or underused space above commercial premises into residential homes. Available to property owners and long-term lessees in town centres across Ireland.
The local authority funds the full cost of repairs on your vacant property, then leases it for social housing for an agreed period. You retain ownership and receive rental income after repayment.
Choose whether you are an owner, renter, or developer. This filters which grants apply to you.
Type your address and county. We automatically pull BER rating, property type, and build year from public records.
Quick yes/no questions about your property help us determine eligibility for each specific scheme.
Get a personalised list of every grant you may be eligible for, ranked by likelihood, with direct links to apply.
Yes — many Irish property grants can be stacked together. For example, you can combine SEAI energy grants (up to €50,000) with the Home Energy Upgrade Loan for financing the remainder. Similarly, the Croí Cónaithe vacant property grant can be combined with SEAI measures on the same property. The Help to Buy scheme is also stackable with the First Home Scheme. Our finder checks all combinations automatically so you don't miss anything.
The maximum depends on property type and eligible schemes. For a derelict vacant property undergoing full renovation, you could access up to €70,000 via Croí Cónaithe, plus up to €50,000 in SEAI energy grants, giving a combined total of over €120,000. First-time buyers can additionally access up to €30,000 Help to Buy. The overall potential maximum across all schemes is approximately €142,000.
Not always. Renters can access the Rent Tax Credit (up to €500 per year, or €1,000 for a couple), the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), and the Housing Adaptation Grants with landlord consent. However, most energy and renovation grants (SEAI, Croí Cónaithe, Help to Buy) require ownership or an intention to purchase. Select your role in the finder above to see exactly what you qualify for.
The Croí Cónaithe (Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant) provides up to €50,000 for a vacant property (vacant 2+ years) or up to €70,000 for a derelict property. You must intend to use it as your principal private residence. The grant is paid after works are completed and verified. Applications are made through your local authority. Properties on the Vacant Homes Register are prioritised.
SEAI offers several schemes in 2026: the Better Energy Homes Grant (up to €50,000 for insulation, heat pumps, solar, windows); the Warmer Homes Scheme (free upgrades for low-income households on certain social welfare payments); the Community Energy Grant for apartment buildings; and the Home Energy Upgrade Loan at below-market interest rates. Amounts vary based on measures installed and BER improvement achieved.
Generally, grants received for your principal private residence are not treated as taxable income in Ireland. However, if you are a landlord receiving grants for a rental property, the grant may be considered income and/or affect the deductibility of renovation costs. The Help to Buy scheme is a tax rebate, not income. Always consult a tax adviser or Revenue directly for your specific situation.
Processing times vary significantly by scheme: Help to Buy is typically approved within a few days via Revenue's myAccount. SEAI Better Energy Homes grants are paid after works are completed and inspected — typically 4–12 weeks after claim submission. Croí Cónaithe approval can take several months as local authorities assess applications and verify vacancy status. Housing Adaptation Grants from local authorities can take several months depending on demand.
Yes. Most national grants (SEAI, Croí Cónaithe, Help to Buy, Housing Adaptation) are available nationwide, including rural areas. Additionally, the LEADER Rural Development Programme offers specific support for rural businesses and community projects. The Ready to Build Scheme makes serviced sites available in rural towns and villages for self-build. Some county-specific schemes also exist — our finder automatically checks all schemes applicable to your county.
What you are entitled to depends on several factors: whether you own or rent, your property's age and BER rating, your income level, and whether the property is vacant or derelict. Irish homeowners may be entitled to SEAI energy grants (up to €50,000), the Croí Cónaithe vacant property grant (up to €70,000), Housing Adaptation Grants for disability or older persons (up to €30,000), and first-time buyer supports including Help to Buy (up to €30,000). Use the free grant finder above to get a personalised entitlements list for your specific property and circumstances.
The main house grants available in Ireland in 2026 are:
Use the grant finder above to check which of these you qualify for.
The application process varies by scheme. SEAI energy grants are applied for at seai.ie — you must register before works begin and use an SEAI-registered contractor. Help to Buy is applied for through Revenue's myAccount portal before signing contracts on your new home. Croí Cónaithe and Housing Adaptation Grants are administered by your local authority's housing department. The First Home Scheme is applied for at firsthomescheme.ie. All applications are free of charge — there are no application fees for any Irish government property grant.
Yes — all Irish government property grants are completely free to apply for. There are no application fees for SEAI grants, Help to Buy, Croí Cónaithe, Housing Adaptation Grants, or any other state-funded scheme. This grant finder tool is also 100% free to use with no sign-up, no registration, and no subscription required. Be cautious of any third-party services charging fees to process grant applications on your behalf — the official application routes are always free and straightforward.
Ireland's main retrofit grants are provided through SEAI in 2026. The Better Energy Homes grant covers individual measures: cavity and external wall insulation (up to €8,000), heat pump installation (up to €6,500), solar PV panels (up to €1,800), and windows and doors (up to €1,500). The One Stop Shop service coordinates full whole-home deep retrofits, with support up to €50,000. The Warmer Homes Scheme provides free retrofits for households on qualifying social welfare payments such as Fuel Allowance. The Home Energy Upgrade Loan offers low-interest financing at below-market rates for measures not fully covered by grants.
Takes less than 2 minutes — checks every available Irish government scheme.