Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 March 2026
39. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 478 of 18 March 2026, if a modular home can be defined as a ‘qualifying residence’ for the purpose of the help to buy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22619/26]
View answerThe Help to Buy (HTB) incentive is a scheme to assist first-time purchasers with the deposit they need to buy or build a new house or apartment. The incentive gives a refund of Income Tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) paid in Ireland over the previous four years, subject to limits outlined in the legislation.
Based on the latest available data (30 November 2025), the scheme has supported over 61,000 individuals or couples to buy or build their own home.
The legislation governing the HTB scheme is set out in section 477C of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 and outlines the definitions and conditions that apply to the HTB scheme.
Section 477C(1) provides the definition of a ‘qualifying residence’ for the purpose of the HTB scheme. A ‘qualifying residence’ is:
a new building which was not, at any time, used, or suitable for use, as a dwelling,
a building which was not previously, in whole or in part, used, or suitable for use, as a dwelling and which has been converted for use as a dwelling,
a building which was not at any time used as a dwelling and was purchased by a first-time purchaser in accordance with an affordable dwelling purchase arrangement,
a building bought or built as the first-time buyer’s sole or main residence,
a building with a purchase value/ approved valuation not greater than €500,000, and
a building in respect of which the construction work is subject to VAT at the rate of 13.5% or 9% in Ireland.
A ‘self-build qualifying residence’ is defined as a ‘qualifying residence’ which is built, directly or indirectly, by a first-time purchaser on his or her own behalf. As such, the conditions pertaining to a ‘qualifying residence’ also apply to a ‘self-build qualifying residence.’
Additional eligibility conditions also apply with regards to a ‘qualifying residence’. These are:
a qualifying loan must be taken out on the property with a qualifying lender, the qualifying loan used to purchase or build the property must a be minimum of 70% of the value of the property, and in cases where the property is being purchased rather than self-built, the vendor must be registered with Revenue as a ‘qualifying contractor’ for the purposes of HTB.
