DISCLAIMER – This post is for informational purposes only. We strongly recommend that you seek advice from an independent financial adviser and legal adviser if applying for any of the schemes below.
Key Takeaways
| Scheme | Who It’s For | Maximum Support / Loan | Property Limits (2025) | Key Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Home Scheme | First-time buyers and eligible divorcees separated > 3 years | – State equity up to 30 % – Or 20 % if using Help-to-Buy | Price caps vary (€350 k–€500 k depending on county & property type) | – Must take a private mortgage – Repay equity share on sale or remortgage. |
| Help-to-Buy (HTB) | First-time buyers of new-builds or self-builds | – Refund of income tax & DIRT up to €30,000 – Or 10 % of home value (whichever is lower) | Max property value €500,000 | – Must live in the home for 5 years – Cannot combine with investor purchase. |
| Tenant Purchase Scheme | Local-authority tenants buying their rented home | Discount up to 60 % of market value | Based on existing tenancy property | – Must have rented from the council ≥ 10 years – Cannot resell within 5 years. |
| Cost-Rental Scheme | Moderate-income renters | Rent set at least 25 % below market rate | New cost-rental developments only | – Household income ≤ €66 k (Dublin) – €59 k (rest of Ireland). |
| Local-Authority Home Loan (Purchase & Renovation) | First-time buyers or ‘fresh start’ applicants | – Loan up to 90 % of market value – Max €360 k | Applies to new, second-hand, or renovation properties | – Gross income ≤ €70 k (joint €85 k). – Fixed 25–30 yr term. |
| Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant | Buyers refurbishing long-vacant or derelict homes | – Grant up to €50,000 – Plus €20,000 top-up for dereliction | – Property must be vacant ≥ 2 years – Derelict ≥ 7 years | – Must become primary residence – Combineable with SEAI energy grants. |
1. First Home Scheme
The First Home Scheme (FHS) helps buyers to buy a new home or to build their first home. The FHS is a shared equity scheme, which means that the government and participating banks pay up to 30% of the cost of your new home in return for a stake in the home.
- The State takes an equity stake of up to 30 % of your home’s value (20 % if you also claim the Help-to-Buy tax refund).
- You don’t pay interest for the first five years. However, you’ll need to repay or buy out the State’s share when you sell, refinance, or after a set period.
- Price caps depend on county and property type; €350k in rural counties to €500k in Dublin City.
See more on Citizens Information.
| Local authority area | Price limits for buying | Price limits for building |
| Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, South Dublin, Co Wicklow | €500,000 for all properties | €500,000 |
| Cork City | €475,000 for houses and €500,000 for apartments | €475,000 |
| Co Kildare | €475,000 for all properties | €475,000 |
| Co Cork, Galway City, Co Meath | €450,000 for all properties | €450,000 |
| Limerick City and County | €425,000 for houses and €450,000 for apartments | €425,000 |
| Co Galway, Co Louth | €425,000 for all properties | €425,000 |
| Co Kilkenny, Co Mayo | €400,000 for all properties | €400,000 |
| Waterford City and County | €375,000 for houses and €450,000 for apartments | €375,000 |
| Co Clare, Co Kerry, Co Laois, Co Offaly, Co Sligo, Co Westmeath, Co Wexford | €375,000 for all properties | €375,000 |
| Co Carlow, Co Cavan, Co Donegal, Co Leitrim, Co Longford, Co Monaghan, Co Roscommon, Co Tipperary, | €350,000 for all properties | €350,000 |
To be Eligible, You must;
- Be a first-time buyer of residential property in Ireland
- Be over 18 years old
- Live in the property and the property must be a new-build (no second-hand)
- Have a mortgage with BOI, AIB, Permanent TSB, Haven Mortgages or EBS.
Visit firsthomescheme.ie for More.
2. Help-to-Buy (HTB) Scheme
The Help to Buy Scheme gives you a refund of the income tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) you have paid in Ireland for the 4 years before the year you apply. The HTB scheme refund gives back:
- Up to €30,000, or
- 10 % of the property price, whichever is lower.
To be eligible, You must:
- Buy or self-build a new home with a maximum value of €500,000.
- Complete the new house build or purchase must be between January 2017 and December 2029.
- Be a first-time buyer/builder and must not own property abroad.
- Have a mortgage that covers at least 70 % of the property price.
- Have paid enough Income Tax or DIRT over the previous four years.
Visit Revenue.ie for more
Example – Total Support for a €400,000 New-Build Home.
| Scheme | Type of Support | Maximum Amount (€) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Help-to-Buy (HTB) | Tax refund | Up to €30,000 | 10% of home value or tax paid (whichever is lower). |
| First Home Scheme (FHS) | State equity share | Up to €80,000 (20%) | Limited to 20% if used with HTB; 30% if used alone. |
Example Breakdown
A first-time buyer purchasing a €400,000 new-build using both Help-to-Buy and the First Home Scheme could access:
- €30,000 Help-to-Buy refund
- €80,000 State equity share (20% via First Home Scheme)
- This leaves €290,000 to be covered by mortgage and personal deposit
That’s effectively €110,000 in State support. When used together, Ireland’s grant and equity schemes can reduce the upfront buying costs by 25–30%, especially for those buying new-build homes.
However, as you will soon find:
- Most schemes do not include second-hand homes, unless applying for the Vacant Property or Local-Authority renovation loan.
- The State’s equity share under FHS must eventually be repaid. So it’s not a permanent discount; just a preponed one.
3A. Tenant Home Purchase Product
If your landlord has issued a valid ‘Notice of Termination’ because the house is being sold, then this is for you. This scheme expands the First Home Scheme, so you qualify if your landlord is selling the property you are renting and you want to buy it.
This scheme is slightly different to the FHS because you ;
- Can buy a second-hand home (your rental home) while the FHS is only available for new homes.
- Cannot qualify for the Help to Buy Scheme, as it only applies to new homes.
For more information, Visit https://www.firsthomescheme.ie/faqs/about-the-tenant-home-purchase-product/
3B. Tenant Home Purchase Scheme
Though the name is similar to the previous one above, this one is aimed at those in social housing support. This enables them to buy their home from the local council.
It allows existing council tenants to buy the homes they have been renting in at a discounted price based on their income. Tenants who have lived in their home for 10 years or more can buy it at a discount of 40–60 %, depending on household income.
As seen on Citizens Information, the below table shows the percentage discount you can get on the purchase price depending on your income and the number of years until the incremental charge ends.
| Your income | The % discount on the purchase price | Number of years until the charge is complete |
| €20,000 or less | 60% | 30 years |
| Between €20,001 and €29,999 | 50% | 25 years |
| €30,000 or more | 40% | 20 years |
This scheme is divided into three.
- Incremental Tenant Purchase Scheme for existing local authority houses, 2016
- Incremental Purchase Scheme for newly built houses, 2010
- Tenant Purchase of Apartments Scheme, 2012
To qualify for each one:
- You must have lived in the home for at least 10 years
- You must have an annual income of at least €11,000 per year. (wages + social welfare payments)
- Purchasers must be capable of maintaining the property and paying local property tax.
- Discounts are not repayable unless you sell within five years.
- Available through local authorities only.
Go to Citizens’ Information to see more.
4. Cost-Rental Scheme
‘Cost rental’ refers to rental accommodation based on the cost of building, managing and maintaining the homes. It does not include any profit for a developer.
This scheme is aimed at middle-income earners who cannot afford market rents but don’t qualify for social housing.
- Rent is set at least 25 % below market rate in the area.
- Operated by 400+ Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) and the Land Development Agency (LDA).
- Rent will not be more than 35% of your Net Income
- Net Household Income caps – €66,000 in Dublin / €59,000 elsewhere.
This scheme gives renters stability and a pathway to save for future ownership.
For available accommodation on the scheme, go HERE.
5. Local-Authority Home Loan
The Local-Authority Home Loan is a government-backed mortgage that is given to first-time buyers to either build a home, buy a new home or second-hand home.
- Borrow up to 90 % of the purchase price, capped at a maximum of €360,000.
- Annual gross income limit – €70,000 (single) / €85,000 (joint).
- Loans are offered at fixed, reduced interest rates – so you have the same repayments for the lifetime of the loan.
For more on this loan, click HERE
Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan
Government backed mortgage and loan for the purchase and renovation of derelict and non-habitable homes. The property must be eligible for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, whether derelict, non-habitable or simply vacant.
6. Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant
This grant helps buyers transform long-empty or derelict homes into livable homes.
- You can get up to €50,000 for homes vacant for more than 2 years.
- You can get up to €70,000 if the home is derelict.
- You must live there as your main home once works finish.
- Can be combined with SEAI energy-upgrade grants for insulation, heat pumps, or solar panels.
Which Scheme Fits You Best?
| Buyer Type | Recommended Scheme(s) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-time buyer buying new-build | Help-to-Buy + First Home Scheme | Maximises deposit & equity support |
| Long-term council tenant | Tenant Purchase Scheme | Largest discount on existing home |
| Moderate-income renter | Cost-Rental Scheme | Affordable long-term rent security |
| Buyer renovating an old/vacant home | Vacant Property Grant + Local-Authority Home Loan | Combines funding for purchase + repairs |
