HOUSE GRANTS | BER CERTS, SOLAR HEATING, INSULATION GRANTS

Property

HOUSE GRANTS AVAILABLE
BER CERTS, SOLAR HEATING,
INSULATION GRANTS
BOILER UPGRADES

Below is a short summary of property related grants
involving, for example: Household Insulation, Solar
Heating and BER Certificates, that you may be entitled to.

This report is based on a recent article in the Irish Times
newspaper. Please note that this report is subject to errors
and omissions and that grant amounts and availability are
liable to change at any time.

Potential Grants Available

Grant Category	Amount (€)
External Wall Insulation	1,8000 - 3,600
Dry Lining	900 - 1,800
Solar Heating	800
BER Certificate	50
Attic Insulation	200
Cavity Wall Insulation	250
Heating Controls with Boiler Upgrade	560
Heating Controls Only	400

Home Renovation Scheme

This scheme allows qualifed property owners to claim a tax credit on VAT incurred on home renovations, which basically involves a 13.5 per cent discount on everything from getting your kitchen painted to having your garden landscaped. The amount you need to spend in order to avail of this scheme is currently € 5,000, inclusive of VAT (or € 4.405 exclusive of VAT). The maximum relief you can reclaim is € 4,050 based on a total outlay by you of € 30,000.

To qualify for a grant under this scheme, the work must commence on or after 25th, 2013, and must be carried out during between 2013, 2014 and 2015. Works that qualify include painting and decorating, rewiring, extensions, attic conversions, supply & fitting of kitchens, bathrooms, built-in wardrobes, fitting of windows, repair or replacement of septic tanks, plastering and driveway renovations

The terms and conditions of this scheme, which are many, include the following:

You must pay tax to benefit from the scheme and the credit applies only to PAYE - not to USC or PRSI.

Homeowners must be up to date on both the Local Property Tax and the Household Charge.

The tax credit is granted over two years - for example, if you are entitled to a credit of € 4,050 in 2014, it will be granted to you over the following two years - so you will pay € 1,025 less tax in 2015 and the same in 2016.

You must obtain sight of a "Relevant Contracts Tax" rate notification and tax clearance certificate from the builder(s) you intend employing to do the work.

Not all works are eligible -for example, if you buy a kitchen and get it fitted separately the cost of fitting (which incurs a VAT rate of 13.5 per cent) will be eligible for the scheme but the kitchen itself won't be. On the other hand, if you get a contractor to supply and install the kitchen units, it will qualify provided that, in acceptance with the "2/3rds rule", the cost of the kitchen units does not exceed 2/3rds of the overall cost.

There is no obligation under the scheme to get all the work carried out by one contractor. If you have several smaller jobs that you want to get done, these will qualify, provided that they exceed € 5,000 over the course of a year.

Energy Saving Grant

You might be entitled to a Better Energy Homes grant, if your proposed renovations are judged by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), to increase the energy efficiency of your house or apartment. Grants are offered on a cash basis, (and the minimum amount you need to spend is €400). Conditions apply, so for example, if you need a new central heating boiler, for example, you won't be eligible for a grant unless you upgrade your heating controls - such as introducing zones, etc into your house. Similarly, you won't be entitled to a grant for installing drylining unless you decide to insulate your entire house, rather than just one room or a selected area.

Potential Grants Available

Grant Category	Amount (€)
External Wall Insulation	1,8000 - 3,600
Dry Lining	900 - 1,800
Solar Heating	800
BER Certificate	50
Attic Insulation	200
Cavity Wall Insulation	250
Heating Controls with Boiler Upgrade	560
Heating Controls Only	400

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