Expert Advice Grant Scheme

ONLY for Vacant Above the Shop Conversions and Conversion of Former Commercial/Public Use Buildings to Residential Units

The Expert Advice Grant provides a payment of up to €5,000 towards having an appropriately qualified professional provide expert advice to the owner of;

A building with a commercial element and vacant above the shop space who may avail of the Vacant Above the Shop Grant to convert or refurbish the vacant space into residential unit/s, with the commercial element remaining.
A former vacant commercial / public use building who may avail of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant - Conversion of former Commercial / Public Use Building, to convert the entire building into two or more residential units.

Grant Amounts

The Expert Advice Grant provides:

Up to €5,000 per building;
Maximum of 67% of the overall cost inclusive of VAT.

Any costs above the approved grant amount must be paid by the applicant.

To qualify for the scheme, properties must be:

The Expert Advice Grant applies to two types of buildings:

Vacant Above the Shop projects
Former commercial/public use building conversion projects

The Expert Advice Grant is not available where the intended project is commercial only or where the entire building is being converted into one residential unit only.

Grant Conditions

Applicants must:

Apply before professional advice work has commenced;
Provide proof of ownership or active purchase;
Be an individual applicant or sole trader;
Provide proof of vacancy;
Provide proof of building age;
Engage a suitably qualified professional;
Submit the required Expert Advice Report from a suitably qualified professional (e.g. Engineer, Architect or Quantity Surveyor);
Provide invoices and proof of payment of report.
Ensure the total grant sought does not exceed 67% of the overall cost inclusive of VAT.

Only one Expert Advice Grant may be applied for per building.

What the Expert Advice Grant Covers

The Expert Advice Grant provides funding towards 67% of the overall cost (inclusive of VAT) of the cost of having an appropriately qualified professional provide early-stage advice on the residential potential of the building.

The professional advice may include:

A site visit;
A survey of the existing building;
Mapping of existing services;
Assessment of the building’s suitability for residential use;
A plan or drawing outlining a reuse proposal;
Advice on planning requirements;
Advice on Building Regulations;
Advice on fire safety requirements;
Advice on protected structures or conservation matters, where applicable;
Advice on legal, statutory or compliance issues;
Indicative cost guidance;
A written Expert Advice Report.

The grant does not cover construction works or the detailed design/specification of new-build extensions.

Who Can Carry Out the Expert Advice Report?

The report must be completed by a suitably qualified professional with appropriate expertise.

This may include:

Registered architect; Registered building surveyor; Registered engineer.

The professional should be suitably qualified to advise on building condition, layout, conversion potential, statutory requirements and compliance matters.

Where the building is a protected structure, traditional building or located within an Architectural Conservation Area, owners may wish to seek advice from an accredited conservation professional.

Ineligible Buildings

The following are not eligible under the Expert Advice Grant:

Buildings intended for commercial use only;
Buildings intended to become a single residence only;
Buildings where works have already commenced;
Buildings where drawings or plans have already been prepared before application;
Buildings where planning permission or planning exemption has already been lodged before application;
Buildings owned by registered companies, developers or undertakings.

Supporting Documentation Needed

The following documentation may be required:

Completed and signed Expert Advice Grant application form;
Proof of ownership, such as folio, title deed, mortgage statement or other legal proof;
If purchasing, evidence of active negotiations, such as confirmation from solicitor, estate agent or owner;
Proof that the building was constructed before December 2007;
Proof of vacancy for at least 2 years;
Proof that the building contains a commercial element, where applying for vacant above-the-shop advice;
Proof that the building was formerly commercial/public use, where applying for full conversion advice;
Location map;
Photographs of the building;
Quotation from the proposed professional;
Details of the appointed professional;
Tax Clearance Certificate, where required;
Any other documentation requested by Longford County Council.

By the end of the Expert Advice process, the following proof will be needed to receive the grant payment:

Completed Expert Advice Report;
Invoice from the qualified professional;
Proof of payment;
Confirmation of professional registration/qualification, where required;
Any other final documentation requested by Longford County Council.

What happens if my application is not successful?

If your application is not successful, you can appeal the decision with the local authority. You should write to them within 3 weeks of the decision, giving the reasons why you are appealing.

Your appeal will be reviewed by someone in Longford County Council who was not involved in assessing your application. The local authority will contact you with the outcome of this review. This can take up to 8 weeks.

Important Note

Where Longford County Council requests further documentation to support an application, failure to provide the requested information may result in the application being delayed or deemed invalid.

Applicants should not commence works until written grant approval has issued.

For queries, contact Vacant Homes Officer by clicking this link

You can also email the Vacant Homes Officer by emailing vacanthomesofficer@longfordcoco.ie