In this article we cover:

  • Who can apply for the expanded traditional homes conservation advice grant
  • How much funding is available and what types of reports it covers
  • Which older and historic properties now qualify
  • Why specialist advice matters before upgrading a traditional home
  • How the scheme links with the SEAI Traditional Homes Pilot
  • How it could be used alongside the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant
  • The application deadline

The Department of Housing has expanded the Historic Structures Fund Conservation Advice Scheme for Traditional Houses to cover a much wider range of homes and projects than before.

Previously limited to vacant traditional houses, the scheme has now been broadened to include owner-occupied homes, certain above-the-shop conversions and traditional farmhouses, including some with no statutory protection.

The grant previously only covered vacant properties, ones that would be eligible for the Vacant Property Grant.

For homeowners tackling an older property, that could make it easier to get expert advice before carrying out works that affect the building’s character, performance or safety.

What the grant covers

The scheme will fund up to 67 per cent of the cost of a specialist report, to a maximum of €5,000.

That report could relate to:

  • Conservation works
  • Fire safety improvements
  • Energy upgrade assessments
  • Pre-works risk assessments for retrofit projects

The idea is to help homeowners bring in the right expertise early, especially where a traditional building needs a more careful approach than a standard modern home.

Older buildings often behave very differently from newer ones, particularly when it comes to moisture, ventilation, insulation and materials. Getting the wrong advice can lead to expensive mistakes, damage to historic fabric or retrofit works that do not perform as intended.

Who can apply

The expanded scheme now covers a broader mix of traditional properties.

Eligible buildings include:

  • Protected Structures
  • Traditional homes located in Architectural Conservation Areas
  • Traditional farmhouses
  • Some vernacular farmhouses without statutory protection
  • Former commercial buildings being converted for residential use
  • Residential units planned as multiple-occupancy homes above a shop

One of the biggest changes is that the grant is no longer limited to vacant homes. Owners who already live in their traditional house can now apply too.

That opens the door for more people who are trying to improve comfort, energy efficiency or fire safety without compromising the character of an older building.

For many homeowners, the real barrier is not always the construction work itself, but knowing what work should be done and how to do it properly.

Traditional buildings often need specialist advice before:

  • Replacing windows or doors
  • Insulating walls, roofs or floors
  • Improving airtightness
  • Installing ventilation
  • Introducing low-carbon heating systems
  • Reconfiguring a building for residential use

This scheme is supposed to help towards covering the cost of that early-stage professional input, which can be especially valuable if you are trying to balance energy upgrades with heritage protection.

The scheme will also work alongside the SEAI Traditional Homes Pilot.

That means homeowners using the pilot for energy upgrades may now apply for funding towards a pre-works risk assessment – a step designed to improve energy performance while protecting the building’s historic character.

For people upgrading an older home, that is a significant point. It suggests a more joined-up approach between heritage protection and retrofit policy, rather than treating them as separate issues.

Announcing the new round of applications, Housing Minister, James Browne said:

“This is another support that, along with the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, can help people to bring older properties back into use as comfortable homes, while respecting their heritage and historic features.”

As a reminder, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant offers up to:

  • €50,000 for a vacant property
  • €70,000 for a derelict property

Used together, the two schemes could help reduce both the upfront advice cost and the wider renovation bill on eligible projects.

Also speaking at the launch of the fund, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan said, “By helping owners secure expert insight into the special care required by traditional buildings, this funding will go a long way to enabling the protection and revitalisation of our traditional building stock.”

Application deadline

Applications for the Conservation Advice Scheme must be submitted by 5pm on May 8, 2026. Application forms and guidance documents are available through Department of Housing.