A replacement grant may be available if you are completely replacing your accommodation. You can get up to £31,500 from the Housing Executive.

You can usually only get a replacement grant if you live in a rural area and you remove the existing property. It is subject to a test of resources or a landlords contribution.

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

• What work is included in a replacement grant?
  
• What properties are eligible?
  
• Owner occupiers
  
• Landlords
  
• Tenants
  
• Can I get a grant for a second home?
  
• Do I have to demolish the current property?
  
• How is the grant paid?
  

What work is included in a replacement grant?

A replacement grant is aimed at helping you to rebuild unfit properties. You can get a replacement grant if the cost of repairing a property is so high that replacing it is the best course of action. Costs for installing central heating and insulation are included in the work. You must include these improvements in your replacement property.

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What properties are eligible?

You can get a replacement grant if:

• the property is in a rural area, and
• the accommodation is isolated, and
• replacement is a better option than repairing the property.

If you live in an urban area you will only get a replacement grant if repairs are technically impossible.

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Owner occupiers

You usually have to prove that:

• you actually own the property
• you, or a member of your family, has lived in it for at least the last 12 months.

However, you may also be eligible for a replacement grant if:

• you own the property, and
• you don't live in the property, and
• you have strong ties to the area (for example, you are employed in the immediate area), and
• you are in 'housing need'.

The Housing Executive will accept that you are in 'housing need' if you have more than 30 points on the Selection Scheme.

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Landlords

Landlords can only apply for a replacement grant if the property is in a Rural Priority Area. You must show that you will let the property to people in 'housing need' for at least five years after the work is completed. The Housing Executive considers people with more than 30 points on the Selection Scheme to be in 'housing need'.

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Tenants

Private tenants can't apply for a replacement grant.

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Can I get a grant for a second home?

Replacement grants are usually only available for your main home. However, landlords can apply if:

• the property is in a Rural Priority Area
• the property will be let to people in 'housing need' for at least five years after the work is completed.

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Do I have to demolish the current property?

You will have to build the new property on the same site. You will usually have to demolish the current property. However, you may be able to keep the current property if you get a recommendation from the Environment and Heritage Service.

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How is the grant paid?

The Housing Executive will pay the grant when the work is completed to its satisfaction and you have sent:

• accounts
• receipts
• certificates.

You may be able to apply for an interim payment once you have completed 25% of the work. However, this is at the discretion of the Grants Manager.