{"id":10477,"date":"2022-07-17T21:55:49","date_gmt":"2022-07-17T21:55:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/legalblog.ie\/housing-reliefs-grants\/"},"modified":"2024-02-22T22:53:26","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T22:53:26","slug":"housing-reliefs-grants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/housing-reliefs-grants\/","title":{"rendered":"Home Improvement Grants"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/housing-reliefs-grants\/#Home_Renovation_Scheme\" title=\"Home Renovation Scheme\">Home Renovation Scheme<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/housing-reliefs-grants\/#Housing_Adaptation_Grant\" title=\"Housing Adaptation Grant\">Housing Adaptation Grant<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/housing-reliefs-grants\/#Qualification\" title=\"Qualification\">Qualification<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/housing-reliefs-grants\/#Mobility_Aids_Grants\" title=\"Mobility Aids Grants\">Mobility Aids Grants<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/housing-reliefs-grants\/#Housing_Aid_for_Older_Persons\" title=\"Housing Aid for Older Persons\">Housing Aid for Older Persons<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/housing-reliefs-grants\/#LA_Loans_for_Repair_etc\" title=\"LA Loans for Repair, etc.\">LA Loans for Repair, etc.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/housing-reliefs-grants\/#Better_Energy_Home_Scheme\" title=\"Better Energy Home Scheme\">Better Energy Home Scheme<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/housing-reliefs-grants\/#Greener_Homes_Scheme\" title=\"Greener Homes Scheme\">Greener Homes Scheme<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Home_Renovation_Scheme\"><\/span>Home Renovation Scheme<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Home Renovation Scheme was announced in Budget 2013.\u00a0 It provides a tax credit of 13.5 per cent of qualifying expenditures that can be set against income tax over two years.\u00a0 The work must be done prior to 2016. The applicant must be an owner-occupier who carries out work on a principal private residence.\u00a0 LPT and household charges must be paid up to date.<\/p>\n<p>The contractor employed must be registered for VAT and be tax compliant.\u00a0 In effect, the incentive represents a repayment of the VAT.<\/p>\n<p>The qualifying work must be the repair, renovation or improvement of a dwelling house subject to VAT.\u00a0 It includes supplying and fitting of installations such as kitchens, bathrooms, wardrobes and certain aspects of long-term maintenance such as plumbing, rewiring and plastering.\u00a0 Work such as related professional services subject to the higher rate of 23 per cent VAT is not covered.<\/p>\n<p>The work must be at least \u20ac5000 inclusive of VAT.\u00a0 The maximum tax credit is \u20ac30,000. An application must be made to Revenue for the relief.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Housing_Adaptation_Grant\"><\/span>Housing Adaptation Grant<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A Housing Adaptation Grant is available to make a home more suitable for persons with physical or intellectual disabilities. The grant may finance changes and adaptations to \u00a0a home to make it more suitable to the person&#8217;s needs.<\/p>\n<p>The availability of the grant is dependent on priority needs.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Priority 1 is those who are terminally ill or fully or mainly dependent on family or carer, where alterations or adaptations would facilitate discharge from the hospital or alleviate future hospital needs.<\/li>\n<li>Priority 2 refers to persons who need assistance with daily routines without which their independent functioning would be inhibited.<\/li>\n<li>Priority 3 refers to persons who are independent but require special facilities to improve their quality of life.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Minor works may be facilitated by a Mobility Aids Grant.\u00a0 \u00a0In this case, a means test applies. The Mobility Aids Grant is available for owner-occupied houses or houses purchased under a local authority scheme, privately rented accommodation, and accommodation provided under voluntary housing assistance or rent subsidy schemes.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Qualification\"><\/span>Qualification<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The housing grant for people with a disability is mean tested.\u00a0 Household income is taken into account.\u00a0 Grants of more than \u20ac10,000 require the recipient to have a tax clearance cert.\u00a0 The contractor must have a tax clearance cert.<\/p>\n<p>If the household income is less than \u20ac30,000, up to 95 per cent of the work to a maximum of \u20ac30,000 may be paid for.\u00a0 The proportion grant aided will be reduced from 95 down to 30 percent on a reducing basis where income exceeds these amounts.<\/p>\n<p>If the applicant is unable to obtain a loan on a commercial basis, a local authority home improvement loan may be available.\u00a0The maximum grants taper downwards from an income above \u20ac30,000 to zero above \u20ac65,000. A lower grant is available in the case of newer properties.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mobility_Aids_Grants\"><\/span>Mobility Aids Grants<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Mobility Aids Grant provides for works to improve mobility in the home.\u00a0 It typically includes stair-lifts, access ramps and rails in showers.\u00a0 This is primarily for older persons but may be available to persons with a disability.<\/p>\n<p>The tests are broadly similar to other housing grants.\u00a0 It is available for persons with a household income of less than \u20ac30,000.\u00a0 The maximum grant is \u20ac6,000 and covers up to 100 percent of the work.\u00a0 A tax clearance certificate is usually required.<\/p>\n<p>There is a scheme enabling local authorities to improve privately owned houses as an alternative to providing local authority housing.\u00a0 It is necessary that the applicants are thereby removed from the housing list.<\/p>\n<p>It applies to owner-occupiers in overcrowded houses who do not meet standards and who cannot afford to make improvements.\u00a0 It is also available to local authority tenants, purchasers or housing authority tenants who wish to purchase a home owned by a relative but cannot do so because it is too small or requires improvement.<\/p>\n<p>Under the scheme, the local authority does works to remove the defects or improve the house by extension, other improvement or development.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Housing_Aid_for_Older_Persons\"><\/span>Housing Aid for Older Persons<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Housing Aid for Older Persons Scheme is designed to improve the living conditions of older persons.\u00a0 In this context, older persons are over 60, although exceptional assistance may be given to persons under 60 years in cases of hardship.<\/p>\n<p>Local authorities have different criteria regarding the types of work they will approve under the scheme.\u00a0 Works typically covered include structural repairs and improvements, repairing and replacement of windows and doors, water, sanitary services, cleaning and painting, Radon remediation and rewiring.<\/p>\n<p>Priority will be given priority on the basis of medical needs. The local authority may request an Occupational Therapist\\&#8217;s assessment.<\/p>\n<p>The grant is means-tested.\u00a0 Similar rules apply to the previous scheme.\u00a0 The applicant must have a tax clearance certificate where the grant exceeds \u20ac10,000.<\/p>\n<p>Household income is taken into account.\u00a0 The maximum grant of \u20ac10,500 is available to persons with household income up to \u20ac30,000.\u00a0 This tapers down to zero at a household income of \u20ac65,000 in a number of bands.<\/p>\n<p>Under both of the above schemes the percentage of the work covered, tapers downwards for persons with income between \u20ac30,000 and \u20ac65,000.\u00a0 This falls from 100 per cent down to 30 per cent at \u20ac54,000 and zero at \u20ac65,000.<\/p>\n<p>The Housing Aid for Older Persons Scheme is aimed at providing minor repairs for older persons.\u00a0 It is aided by the local authority.\u00a0 It may include structural repairs,<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"LA_Loans_for_Repair_etc\"><\/span>LA Loans for Repair, etc.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Local authorities offer loans to owner-occupiers for the purpose of repairs, improvements and extensions if the applicant cannot obtain a loan from a commercial bank and the house concerned needs improvement, repair or extension due to overcrowding.<\/p>\n<p>The applicant must satisfy an income test, be on a housing list, \u00a0or be a local authority or tenant purchaser and wish to purchase a house and return the present house to the authority.\u00a0 The income test does not apply to those registered on a local authority list, a tenant of a local authority or housing association wishing to return a house, etc.<\/p>\n<p>The income test requires that the income be \u20ac40,000 or less.\u00a0 The income threshold is \u20ac40,000 for a single income household.\u00a0 The maximum loans are \u20ac38,000, or \u20ac15,000, where there are no mortgages.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Better_Energy_Home_Scheme\"><\/span>Better Energy Home Scheme<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Better Energy Home scheme provides grants to homeowners to improve energy efficiency.\u00a0 It is available to renters, landlords and owner-occupiers.\u00a0 It is administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland.<\/p>\n<p>Grants are available to cover key works such as installation, heating control updates and the installation of the high-efficiency boiler.\u00a0 That work must improve the BER rating. Solar heating provision was discontinued.<\/p>\n<p>The house must be constructed before 2006.\u00a0 A contractor must be used from SEAI\u2019s approved list.\u00a0 The grants range between \u20ac200 and \u20ac3,600 depending on the type of work concerned.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Greener_Homes_Scheme\"><\/span>Greener Homes Scheme<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Greener Homes Scheme formerly operated by the \u00a0Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland was discontinued in May 2011.\u00a0 The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is administered by SEAI.<\/p>\n<p>It provides for attic installation, draught proofing, low-energy light bulbs and cavity wall insulation and energy advice.\u00a0 The home must be completed before 2002, and the applicant must be a recipient of Job Seeker&#8217;s Allowance, Family Income Support or Fuel Allowance.<\/p>\n<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-10477\" data-postid=\"10477\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-10477 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home Renovation Scheme The Home Renovation Scheme was announced in Budget 2013.\u00a0 It provides a tax credit of 13.5 per cent of qualifying expenditures that can be set against income tax over two years.\u00a0 The work must be done prior to 2016. The applicant must be an owner-occupier who carries out work on a principal [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[278],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10477"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10477"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10477\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32129,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10477\/revisions\/32129"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10477"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10477"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10477"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}