Housing Benefits and Grants Ireland 2026

Ireland offers a range of housing supports including the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), Rent Supplement, Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), Help to Buy scheme, Local Authority Home Loan, various housing adaptation grants for older people and people with disabilities, and energy upgrade grants such as the Warmer Homes Scheme and Better Energy Homes programme.

Yes. The main rent supports are: Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) — a social housing support paid directly to your landlord; Rent Supplement — a means-tested payment for people renting privately who cannot afford their rent; and Rent Tax Credit — a tax credit worth up to €1,000 per year for private renters. Each has different eligibility criteria.

The main home improvement grants are: Warmer Homes Scheme (free insulation and heating upgrades for low-income households), Better Energy Homes (SEAI grants for insulation and heat pumps), Solar Panel Grants (SEAI grants up to €2,400), Housing Adaptation Grant (up to €30,000 for disability adaptations), Mobility Aids Grant (up to €6,000 for accessibility works), Housing Aid for Older People (up to €8,000 for structural repairs), and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant (up to €70,000 for vacant property renovation).

The Help to Buy (HTB) scheme is an Irish government scheme that gives first-time buyers an income tax refund of up to €30,000 to help fund a deposit on a new-build home. You must buy a new-build property valued at €500,000 or less, and the refund is based on the income tax and DIRT you have paid over the previous four years.

If you are in serious mortgage arrears, the Mortgage to Rent scheme allows you to transfer ownership of your home to a housing body, clearing your mortgage debt while you remain in the property as a social tenant paying income-based rent. The Tenant in Situ scheme protects qualifying tenants when their landlord sells, giving the local authority the option to purchase the property.