Ireland’s best home improvement loans
A home improvement loan can help add value to your home by paying for renovations, repairs or an extension. Use our loan calculator to compare loan rates for the amount and term you need.
What is a home improvement loan for?
A home improvement loan can help pay for work you need to do on your house, which could increase the value of your property. The type of work you could do includes:
A home improvement loan is a type of unsecured, personal loan. Learn more about personal loans on our dedicated comparison page.
How much can you borrow?
You could borrow between €1,000 and €75,000 over a period of 1 to 10 years, but not every lender offers these loan amounts and terms.
A larger loan and longer term may take longer to approve, and you may not be able to complete the full application process online.
How much will it cost?
This depends on several factors, for example:
- The interest rate: The higher the rate you’re offered, the more interest you’ll pay.
- The amount you borrow: The higher the amount, the bigger the cost overall.
- The term you borrow over: The longer the term, the more interest you’ll pay.
- The type of loan you get: For example, Green loans are often cheaper than regular home improvement loans.
- The lender: It’s worth comparing different lenders and checking loan rates to ensure you get the best deal.
Your credit history can affect the interest rate you’re approved for also. Here’s how to check your credit record.
How to find the best home improvement loan
Finding a cheaper loan could save you hundreds of euro in interest. To get started, you’ll need to:
- Identify the changes you want to make to your home
- Get quotes for your project
- Work out the total cost and your monthly budget
- Pick a loan term that keeps repayments within budget
Use our comparison above to check the rates, monthly payment cost and total repayment amount for each loan, to find the best deal.
You can use the calculator filters to change the loan amount and repayment term to suit your needs.
If you want to improve your home’s energy efficiency, look for loans with the Green tag.
What is a Green home improvement loan?
If you want to make changes to your home that are environmentally friendly, a Green personal loan could save you money, but there are terms attached.
You will usually have to:
- use at least half of the money towards approved energy efficiency improvements
- provide proof when you apply e.g. a quote or invoice.
Here are the sorts of things you can use the loan for:
Some green loans are linked to the home energy grants available on the SEAI website, for example the An Post Money Green Loan.
Here’s everything you need to know about applying for a home energy grant.
It may take longer to be approved for a green loan than a regular home improvement loan and the funds may not be released as quickly.
Can I you get a home improvement grant?
You can apply for a home energy grant on the SEAI website and some green home improvement loans are linked to these grants.
The value of the grant depends on the type of upgrade needed and the size of your home. For example, you could get as much as €6,000 for external wall insulation on a detached property.
Getting a grant means you don’t have to cover the full cost of improvements to your home that will increase its energy efficiency.
Green home improvement loans usually work out cheaper too if you need help paying for the balance of the work.
How to apply for a home improvement loan
You can use our comparison to select a loan and go through to the provider’s site. You’ll then confirm the value of the loan and term you need and complete and submit their online application.
Depending on the amount you wish to borrow, they may be able to approve your loan within as little as three hours.
If you want to borrow a large amount, they may need to call you back to discuss your needs further.
Learn about how loans work in Ireland in our Complete Guide to Loans.
Home improvement loan FAQs
Are home improvement loans tax deductible?
Not any more. You used to be able to claim tax relief on the interest paid on a home improvement loan through Revenue.ie but the loan must have started before 31 December 2012.
There was also a Home Renovation Incentive run by Revenue.ie that covered work carried out or paid for up to 31 December 2018, or between 1 January 2019 and 31 March 2019 if planning permission was in place by then.
It’s worth keeping an eye out for possible future schemes that may be introduced though, that could reduce the amount of tax you owe.
Can I overpay on my home improvement loan?
Yes, you can often repay the loan early or overpay without penalty, but check for any hidden charges. Clearing the loan early in one go or through overpayments could:
- Reduce the amount of interest you’ll pay
- Reduce the length of the term
- Reduce the overall cost of the loan
If you think you’ll be able to pay your loan off early, pick a lender that won’t charge any penalties for this.
What's the Typical APR (Annual Percentage Rate)?
The Typical APR (Annual Percentage Rate) shown is the interest rate that most people will get, but you’ll need to apply and go through checks to find out what rate the lender will give you.
For example, a poor credit rating or lower income may result in you paying more than the rate advertised.
What is a credit union?
A credit union is a community financial institution that requires you to become a member. Membership is linked to sharing a common bond, such as a profession or part of the country.
Credit unions don’t have any shareholders which means its members can have more of a say in how things are run and benefit from rewards like low interest rates.
If you’re able to find a credit union that will accept you, they can often beat the interest rates offered by other loan providers.
What’s the difference between unsecured and secured loans?
An unsecured loan (or personal loan) doesn’t need to be backed up by any collateral like a house or car.
It’s usually only offered to people who can prove they have a good credit history and are a low risk borrower. Unsecured loans are also usually for lower amounts and shorter terms.
A secured loan works differently because it’s linked to an asset you own, usually a house.
This acts as financial security to the lender who is entitled to take possession of your property if you don’t repay the loan on time.
The main advantages of secured loans are that you can borrow more money over a longer term, at a lower interest rate.
None of the loans we show in our comparisons are secured.