Proof of non residency for derelict house

[Hasbeen]

A friend of mine is hoping to renovate an old cottage next to their parent's home farm dwelling.
There are generous grants available but you must have proof of low usage of electricity over the previous two years to prove that the house in question has genuinely been unoccupied. However , the usage over the last two years , the ESB say is over the threshold. they won't say by how much , aparrantly its a yes or a no question. I would imagine/guess that a few sockets were used over the years for plugging in electric fencers , machinery whatever for the parent's farm. Whatever it was , the threshold ( which is not disclosed by the ESB , but is obviously extremely low) was exceeded.

My question is , can anybody else think of any other documentary proof tha'ts available that can prove unoccupancy ,( in reality its been unoccupied for 20 years) and would be acceptable to the housing grant department.

 

[T McGibney]

Confirmation from an engineer that the house appears not to have been inhabited since year X.

 

[misemoi]

https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/frequently-asked-questions-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant.pdf

Question 6 gives details.

Vacant homes officer should be able to give the acceptable other proofs.

Vacant Homes Officer Contacts

Vacant Homes Officers

www.gov.ie

 

[Hasbeen]

Thanks Tom and misemoi. Thats great guidance. Appreciate it

 

[ClubMan]

My question is , can anybody else think of any other documentary proof tha'ts available that can prove unoccupancy

Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant provides funding so you can refurbish vacant properties to live in or rent out.

www.citizensinformation.ie

Proof that the property is vacant. Utility bills can be used to show that a property has been vacant at a particular time. If you can’t get utility bills for the property, the local authority may accept a signed affidavit stating that the property has been vacant for at least 2 years. Your local authority may also accept other documents that prove the property is vacant.

 

[Dr Strangelove]

Electricity consumption is indicative but not conclusive proof of occupancy.

A meter point is just a meter point. It can serve more than one dwelling and in certain circumstances one dwelling can have more than one meter point.

 

[Monbretia]

I would just submit the actual electricity bills, don't know why the provider has a say in whether or not it was vacant or what usage should be, council will query it if they don't like it! My brother has recently applied for and got approval of the grant, my father's house had been empty 5 yrs but electricity still on for various things like lights/bit of heat and in fact the washing machine there was used very regularly as my brother job means it's better to wash his clothes separately so he used it. No one lived there but it was visited several times a week in those 'vacant' years. Council just wanted actual bills and not letters or anything from provider, mind you it was obvious the house was unlived in which probably helps!

 

[ClubMan]

However , the usage over the last two years , the ESB say is over the threshold.

I don't get this. It's not the ESB's job to rule on the vacancy issue. You just get the bills from them and present them to the local authority as part of the grant application process. If they don't accept those as evidence that the property was vacant then you use something else, an affidavit if necessary.

Edit: post crossed with @Montbretia's but we're basically making the same point.