In this article we cover:

  • Grants for home renovations in County Down
  • Grants for home adaptations
  • Energy efficiency grants
  • Funding for listed and historic buildings
  • Electric vehicle home charger grants
  • Grants for self-builds

Grants for home renovations in County Down

There are a number of grants and funding routes available to homeowners, landlords and private tenants in County Down. Unlike the Republic of Ireland, most home improvement grants in Northern Ireland are administered through the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, nidirect, the Department for Communities or UK-wide grant schemes.

Please note that this list is not exhaustive and funding can change, so always check the latest eligibility criteria before applying.

1. Disabled Facilities Grant:

This grant helps adapt a home for a person with a disability.

It can be used for works recommended by an occupational therapist, such as:

Improving access to a bathroom, bedroom or living room.
Adding extra bathroom facilities.
Adapting kitchens, lighting or heating controls.
Improving the heating system where needed.

Owner occupiers, landlords and private tenants may be able to apply if a person with a disability lives in the property.

Grant aid depends on the approved cost of the work and your financial circumstances.

In some cases, grant aid may be available up to £35,000, with higher awards possible in exceptional cases.

Important: Work must not begin until approval has been given by the Housing Executive.

More information: nidirect Disabled Facilities Grants page or Northern Ireland Housing Executive Disabled Facilities Grant page.

2. Home Repair Assistance Grant:

This grant is for small-scale repair work and improvements to your main home.

It is generally only awarded in exceptional circumstances, such as:

Where repairs are needed to complete a Disabled Facilities Grant.
Where there are serious health and safety risks.
Where the structure of the property puts the occupant at risk.

The grant can help with work such as roof repairs, rendering or essential electrical repairs.

The maximum available is £5,000 over a three-year period.

More information: Northern Ireland Housing Executive Home Repair Assistance Grant page.

3. Repair Grant:

This grant may help with repairs to a property where a local council has issued a statutory notice.

It is mainly relevant to landlords, agents and some private tenants.

The work must relate to the items included in the statutory notice and is generally for repairing or replacing existing items, not adding new ones.

More information: Northern Ireland Housing Executive Types of Grants Available page.

4. Renovation Grant:

A Renovation Grant may be available in exceptional circumstances where a property has been inspected and found to be unfit to live in.

It can help with work needed to bring the property up to a reasonable standard.

The property must usually be your main or only home.

Funding depends on the approved cost of the works and your financial circumstances.

More information: Northern Ireland Housing Executive Renovation Grant page.

5. Replacement Grant:

A Replacement Grant may be available where a home is unfit to live in and repair is not considered a reasonable option.

This is only available in exceptional circumstances and is subject to Housing Executive approval.

More information: Northern Ireland Housing Executive Replacement Grant page.

Affordable Warmth Scheme:

The Affordable Warmth Scheme helps tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency in privately owned or privately rented homes.

It can help with measures such as:

  • Insulation.
  • Heating upgrades.
  • Replacement of single-glazed windows in some cases.
  • Other energy efficiency measures recommended after assessment.

Grant aid can be up to £7,500, or up to £10,000 where solid wall insulation is required.

The scheme is aimed at low-income households and is administered by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

More information: Northern Ireland Housing Executive Affordable Warmth Scheme page or nidirect Energy Saving Grants page.

Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme:

The Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme, also known as NISEP, provides funding for energy efficiency improvements.

Schemes can include support for:

  • Loft insulation.
  • Cavity wall insulation.
  • Heating and insulation measures.
  • Priority whole-house energy upgrades.

The schemes are delivered by approved scheme managers and can change from year to year.

Demand can be high and some schemes may have waiting lists.

More information: Utility Regulator NISEP schemes page or Energy Saving Trust Northern Ireland energy grants page.

6. Electric vehicle home charger grant:

Homeowners, renters and landlords in Northern Ireland may be able to access UK-wide support towards the cost of installing an electric vehicle chargepoint.

Eligible home charging grants can provide up to £500 towards the cost of installation.

You may qualify if you:

  • Rent and live in a residential property.
  • Own and live in a flat.
  • Have private off-street parking.
  • Use an approved installer.

There is also support for some households with on-street parking where a cross-pavement charging solution is being installed.

More information: GOV.UK Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grants page or Department for Infrastructure NI Electric Vehicle Chargepoint and Infrastructure Grants page.

7. Historic Environment Fund:

If your home is a listed building or has historic significance, you may be able to apply for support through the Department for Communities Historic Environment Fund.

The fund supports repair, research, regeneration and revival of Northern Ireland’s historic environment.

It can help with projects involving listed buildings, historic monuments and other heritage assets, depending on what funding streams are open at the time.

Some streams are only open for limited periods, so it is worth checking regularly.

More information: Department for Communities NI Historic Environment Funding & Grants page.

Grants for self-builds in County Down

There is currently no general self-build grant in Northern Ireland that covers the cost of building a new home.

However, self-builders may still be able to benefit from some related support, depending on the project, including:

Energy efficiency schemes if you are upgrading an existing property.
EV chargepoint grants if you meet the criteria.
Historic building funding if the project involves a listed or heritage property.
Disabled Facilities Grant support if adaptations are required for someone living in the home.

Self-builders should also check planning, building control, energy performance and utility connection requirements before starting work.

Depending on where in County Down your property is located, your local council may be Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Ards and North Down Borough Council, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, or another neighbouring authority.

For comprehensive information and assistance, visit nidirect, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the Department for Communities and your local council.