The hardest part of self-building is often not the house but the site — finding one, getting it serviced, and paying for water, sewerage and access before a block is laid. Under this scheme the council does that part and sells it to you for less.
Quick facts
- What
- A serviced site sold by your local authority
- Where
- Towns and villages
- Discount
- Up to €30,000, off the sale price
- Who
- Individual self-builders
- Condition
- It must become your principal private residence
- Ask
- Your council's Vacant Homes Officer
How it works
"Under the Ready to Build Scheme, local authorities will make serviced sites in towns and villages available to potential individual purchasers (self-builders). These sites will be available at a discount on the market value of the site for the building of a property for occupation as the principal private residence of the purchaser."
"The level of discount to the individual will depend on the level of servicing cost incurred by the local authority before the sale of the site but will not exceed €30,000. The amount of such discount will be reflected in the sale price of the site to the purchaser."
So it is not a cheque — it is a lower price, and the size of the discount depends on what the council spent servicing that particular site.
The condition
"The Fund is focused on home ownership. The buyer of the site must reside in the dwelling built on the site as his or her principal private residence on completion of the dwelling."
Not an investment site, not a holiday home. And because it is a self-build, it pairs naturally with the First Home Scheme and Help to Buy, both of which cover self-builds.
Who to ask
"For further information, please contact the Vacant Homes Officer in your local authority."
Each local authority makes its own sites available, so the question to ask is whether yours has any coming up.
Common questions
What is the Ready to Build Scheme?
A scheme under which local authorities make serviced sites in towns and villages available to individual self-builders at a discount on market value, for building a home to live in.
How much is the discount?
It depends on the servicing costs the local authority incurred before the sale, but it will not exceed €30,000. The discount is reflected in the sale price.
Can I build a house to rent out?
No. The buyer must reside in the dwelling built on the site as their principal private residence on completion.
Who do I contact?
The Vacant Homes Officer in your local authority.