Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan
A bridging loan covering both the purchase price and the renovation cost of a vacant or derelict home, so you're not left funding the works out of pocket while you wait for the grant refund.
Last checked July 2026
What it is
A government-backed loan that lets a first-time buyer OR a Fresh Start applicant (divorced or separated, or after insolvency or bankruptcy) buy AND renovate a vacant or derelict property in one loan, bridging the gap until the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant pays out. You must be aged 18 to 70 and unable to get enough finance from a commercial lender, and area property-price ceilings apply (from €415,000 in Dublin down to €310,000 elsewhere). It is a fixed-rate mortgage plus an interest-only bridging loan for the grant amount. Distinct from both the Local Authority Home Loan and the Vacant/Derelict Property Grant, and can run alongside the grant.
Who can get it
- You are a first-time buyer
- You are buying a vacant or derelict property to renovate as your home
- Your gross annual income is under €80,000 if you're a single applicant, or under €85,000 combined for a joint application
- It bridges the timing gap: the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant only pays out after the works are done, this loan covers the purchase and the works upfront.
- It is separate from the standard Local Authority Home Loan, which is a normal home-purchase mortgage, not a purchase-plus-renovation product.
- Apply through your local authority. The scheme has its own dedicated site with lender details and the application route.
- Can run alongside the Vacant/Derelict Property Grant itself, they're designed to work together.
How to apply
Applications go through Local authority. The official page has the full eligibility rules and the application itself.
Go to the official page →Checked against the official source on 15 July 2026. Always confirm the details on the official page before applying.
Related guides
- Vacant / Derelict Property Grant
- Ready to Build sites
- Living City Initiative
- Pyrite Remediation Scheme
- Defective Concrete Blocks (Mica) Grant
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