Be ‘Grant’ smart when renovating

THERE are many different types of grants available in Ireland with the main ones being: Home Renovation Incentive; Housing Adaptation Grant for people with disabilities; Housing Aid for older people scheme; Mobility Aids grant scheme; Local authority home improvement loans and the Better Energy Homes scheme.

These are just some of the grants available and obviously certain criteria applies in each case, however, it’s worth investigating whether or not you qualify for grant assistance on your project.

For example, if your project is replacing windows in your existing home to help make it more energy efficient you might qualify for a Home Repair Assistance Grant.

Home energy grants are also available for various aspects of energy saving work being carried out on existing homes or as part of your new build.

To apply for such grants you will need to decide what energy upgrades best suit your home, employ a registered technical advisor and a registered contractor then apply for the grant.

Through the Home Renovation Incentive, homeowners, landlords and local authority tenants can claim a tax credit on the costs of improving their residential property.

The aim of the Housing Aid for Older People scheme is to enable older people to remain in their own homes for as long as possible.

It’s worth contacting the local authority about possible grant aid that might be available, especially in the area of home improvement works.

The Better Energy Home scheme provides grants to help increase energy efficiency in homes, including support for insulation.

While the cost of building or renovating can be quite daunting, a little time spent examining what grants are available can lead to savings, which is always good news. Availing of grants and financial supports also encourages you in your endeavours when planning renovations. Once you’re ‘finance smart’ your renovations can be made as practical or as spectacular as you like.