Can You Get a Grant for Rewiring?

There are two main schemes. The Housing Aid for Older People Grant covers up to 100% of rewiring costs (maximum €10,700) for homeowners aged 66 or over — it's means-tested, so the percentage covered depends on your household income. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant covers up to €50,000 (or €70,000 if the property is classified as derelict) and has no age requirement — the property must have been vacant for 2+ years and built before 2008. Both are administered by your local council. There's also the Better Energy Homes scheme for related energy upgrades, though it doesn't cover rewiring directly. Our Grant Checker tool tells you which schemes you're likely eligible for in about 30 seconds.

The Housing Aid for Older People Grant requires the applicant — or someone living in the household — to be aged 66 or over. If nobody in the household meets that criteria, you won't qualify for that particular grant. However, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant has no age requirement at all. It's based entirely on the property: it must have been vacant for at least 2 years and built before 2008. So if you own a vacant property that needs rewiring, you can apply regardless of your age. If you're a younger homeowner living in your home, there isn't currently a rewiring-specific grant available — but it's worth checking with your local council, as some run discretionary housing aid schemes.

Yes — this is the most important rule to understand. Both the Housing Aid for Older People Grant and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant require that you apply and receive formal written approval before any work begins. If you've already started the rewiring, or even signed a contract with an electrician, you will not be eligible. No exceptions. This catches people out more than anything else. Apply first, wait for your Letter of Approval, and only then book your electrician. We deal with grant applications every week and can guide you through the timing.

Yes — you're free to choose any Safe Electric registered electrical contractor. The local authority doesn't assign one to you. They will typically require two written quotations from registered contractors as part of the application. Both quotes need to clearly itemise the work, materials, and VAT. GES provides formal grant-ready quotations every week — we know exactly what format each Dublin council expects, what level of detail they want, and what supporting documentation speeds up approval. If you'd like a grant quotation, call 01 963 6636 or fill in the form below.

Processing times vary by local authority. In our experience across the four Dublin councils, typical turnaround is 4 to 12 weeks from submission to approval. Dublin City Council tends to be on the faster side (4 to 6 weeks), while some county councils can take up to 12 weeks during busy periods. You can speed things up by submitting a complete application with all documentation upfront — proof of age, proof of ownership, household income evidence, and two itemised quotations from registered electrical contractors. Incomplete applications are the most common cause of delays.

The exact requirements vary slightly by council, but you'll generally need: proof of home ownership (property deeds or mortgage statement), proof of age for the applicant or household member (passport, driving licence, or PPS letter), evidence of household income (social welfare statements, P60, or recent payslips), two written quotations from Safe Electric registered electrical contractors, and your Eircode and MPRN. For the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, you'll also need evidence that the property has been vacant for 2+ years (utility disconnection records, statutory declarations, or similar). We can advise on exactly what your local council will ask for.

For the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, the coverage depends on your household income. If your annual income is under €30,000 (single) or €35,000 (couple), you may receive up to 95% or even 100% of the cost, up to the €10,700 maximum. Higher incomes receive a lower percentage — typically 50% to 80%. The council will confirm your percentage in the Letter of Approval. For the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, the scheme covers the actual cost of works up to €50,000 (€70,000 for derelict properties), but the property must then be lived in or rented for a minimum period after completion.