VPT vs Vacant Property Grant: Stick vs Carrot
Own a vacant property? The government is using both a stick (Vacant Homes Tax at 5× your LPT) and a carrot (grants up to €70,000) to encourage you to bring it back into use. Here’s how both work and what to do.
The Stick: Vacant Homes Tax (VHT)
If your residential property is vacant for 12+ months, you owe VHT at 5 times your basic LPT rate per year. For a property with an LPT of €400, VHT adds €2,000/year on top. Use our LPT Calculator to see your base LPT and implied VHT.
Recommended Toolkit
Get the toolkit
Renovation Budget Planner
Room-by-room budget spreadsheet, contractor comparison matrix & SEAI grant stacking guide.
Get It → €39
Instant PDF download · Built by SEAI-registered assessors since 2009
The Carrot: Vacant Property Grant
Up to €50,000 for renovation of a vacant property (2+ years vacant), or €70,000 if classified as derelict. Plus SEAI grants on top for energy upgrades. Use our Vacant Property Grant Calculator.
Your Options
- Renovate and live in it: Claim the grant, avoid VHT, potentially significant value uplift. Use our Renovation ROI Calculator.
- Renovate and rent: Grant + rental income + tax deductions. Use our Landlord Tax Calculator.
- Sell as-is: Avoid ongoing VHT. Buyer may claim the grant. Use our Stamp Duty Calculator for the buyer’s costs.
- Do nothing: Pay VHT annually. Increasingly expensive and the property may deteriorate further.