Renovation grants

Renovation grants are available to bring unfit accommodation up to a satisfactory standard. You can get up to £25,000 but this can be reduced depending on your personal circumstances.

You can only get a renovation grant to make you home meet the Housing Executive's fitness standards. You won't get a renovation grant to decorate your home or build an extension. It is subject to a 'Test of Resources' or a Landlords contribution.

Under current grants prioritisation scheme, new applications for renovation grants are unlikely to be approved, unless you can demonstrate exceptional circumstances.

What works are included?
What properties are eligible?
Owner occupiers
Landlords
Tenants
How is the grant paid?

What works are included?

A renovation grant is aimed at helping you make your property meet the Housing Executive's fitness standards. A renovation grant can be used to:

eradicate damp
replace a roof
replace a chimney
repair plaster
provide basic amenities like running water.

However, you can also use a renovation grant to:

replace dangerous electrical wiring
improve energy efficiency measures
add central heating
add a fire escape.

What properties are eligible?

You can only apply for a renovation grant if your home is over 10 years old. You will usually only get a grant if the property doesn't meet the Housing Executive's fitness standards. A house won't meet the fitness standards if:

the property is unstable
there is serious disrepair. For example, the roof is damaged
there is serious damp (condensation usually won't count)
there is adequate heat and light in the property
you have no running drinking water
you can't prepare or cook food in your home
there is no hot water in the kitchen
you don't have a suitably located toilet
you don't have a bath or shower
your drains don't work.

You may also get a renovation grant if your accommodation is fit but is in disrepair and is in one of the targeted areas.

Owner occupiers

You must be able to prove that you own the property, or that you are going to buy the property. You must be prepared to live in the accommodation for at least five years after the improvement work is completed.

You may also get a renovation grant if a member of your family will live in the accommodation for at least five years after the work is completed.

Landlords

You can't apply for a renovation grant if you want to improve a house in multiple occupation (HMO). You should apply for a HMO grant instead. However, these are not currently being awarded due to restrictions on grant funding.

To get a renovation grant you must prove that:

you own the property
you will let the property for at least five years after the improvement work is completed.

Tenants

You can apply for a renovation grant if you can prove that you have to carry out the work according to your tenancy agreement. You will also have to sign a certificate confirming that you (or a member of your family) live in the property.

Your landlord will also have to sign a certificate stating that s/he will let the accommodation for at least five years after the improvement work is completed.