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.
Complete Buyer's Guide
The full buying toolkit. Everything in the Starter Kit plus budget model, negotiation scripts, and comparison matrix.
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.