Grants & Incentives
A general overview of housing grants, first-home schemes, and construction incentives available across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, India, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Ireland, Hong Kong SAR China, Malaysia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Germany, France, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Austria, Belgium, and Spain. Always confirm current eligibility with the relevant government authority.
Disclaimer:The information below is a general overview only. Grant amounts, eligibility criteria, and programme availability change frequently. This page does not constitute financial or legal advice. Verify current conditions directly with the relevant government authority or a licensed financial adviser.
AU — Australia
Australia's First Home Owner Grant is administered state-by-state and applies to new residential builds and substantial renovations. Eligibility criteria — including contract value caps and occupancy requirements — vary by state and territory. Stamp duty concessions and land transfer duty exemptions may also apply depending on your state.
NZ — New Zealand
Kāinga Ora administers the First Home Grant for eligible buyers of new or existing homes, subject to income and purchase price caps that are reviewed periodically. The First Home Loan scheme (with Kainga Ora-partnered lenders) can reduce the deposit requirement for qualifying buyers. Check the Kāinga Ora website for current eligibility thresholds.
SG — Singapore
The Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) and related first-timer support help eligible buyers of HDB flats, with grant quantum scaled to household income. Proximity and family grants may also apply. Confirm current eligibility and amounts with HDB and the CPF Board.
IN — India
The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban and Gramin) provides housing assistance for eligible beneficiaries across income categories (EWS, LIG, MIG). Support may include construction grants, credit-linked subsidies, and beneficiary-led construction assistance. State governments may offer additional incentives under their own housing schemes.
GB — United Kingdom
UK government schemes support self-build and first-home buyers, including the Help to Build equity loan for custom and self-build homes, Shared Ownership, and the Lifetime ISA bonus toward a first home. Eligibility, price caps, and scheme availability vary. Confirm current details with the relevant UK authority.
US — United States
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insures loans for qualifying buyers with lower down-payment requirements. Many states and municipalities offer down-payment assistance programmes, homebuyer tax credits, and community development grants. Energy-efficiency incentives (such as IRA-related rebates) may apply to certain construction types.
CA — Canada
Federal programmes support first-home buyers and new builds, including the First-Time Home Buyers' GST Rebate on qualifying new homes, the First Home Savings Account (FHSA) with tax-deductible contributions, and the Home Buyers' Plan (HBP) RRSP withdrawal. The GST/HST New Housing Rebate and CMHC Eco Plus premium refund may also apply. Amounts, price caps, and provincial or territorial incentives vary. Confirm current details with the relevant Canadian authority.
IE — Ireland
Help to Buy refunds income tax and DIRT to first-time buyers of a new build, and the First Home Scheme adds a shared-equity contribution toward the purchase price. SEAI administers home energy upgrade grants (heat pump, solar PV, Warmer Homes), and the Croí Cónaithe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports bringing a vacant or derelict home back into use. Local authority home loans and housing adaptation grants are handled by your local authority. Confirm current caps and eligibility with Revenue, the First Home Scheme and SEAI.
HK — Hong Kong SAR China
The Housing Authority sells subsidised flats at a discount to market value through the Home Ownership Scheme, the Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme, the White Form Secondary Market Scheme and the Tenants Purchase Scheme. For existing buildings, IBRAS and the building management, mandatory inspection and common area repair subsidies fund rehabilitation work, while BEAM Plus GFA concessions and the utility eco-building funds reward green design. Confirm current quotas and eligibility with the Housing Authority and the Urban Renewal Authority.
MY — Malaysia
PR1MA, Residensi Wilayah and Rumah Mesra Rakyat deliver homes below market price, while MyFirstHome (SRP), BSN MyHome, SJKP and the Cagamas first-home guarantee help eligible buyers finance a purchase with a low or zero deposit. Stamp duty exemptions apply to qualifying first homes, EPF Account 2 savings may be withdrawn toward a house, and green building work can qualify for investment tax allowances. Confirm current price ceilings and income limits with KPKT, PR1MA and LHDN.
ZA — South Africa
First Home Finance (formerly FLISP) pays a sliding-scale subsidy to first-time buyers in the gap market, and fully subsidised housing (RDP/BNG) serves qualifying low-income households. Every new home must be enrolled with the NHBRC, which backs a statutory warranty against major structural defects. Section 12L energy-efficiency, Urban Development Zone and Section 12H learnership allowances reward qualifying construction, and some metros add solar PV rebates. Confirm current thresholds with the Department of Human Settlements, the NHBRC and SARS.
AE — United Arab Emirates
The UAE does not operate a single nationwide first-home grant open to all residents. Housing support is delivered to Emirati nationals by federal and emirate-level housing authorities, and the programmes recorded for this market are MOHRE housing support and Dubai Land Department fee incentives such as registration fee waivers on qualifying transactions. Confirm what applies to your build with your emirate's housing authority and the relevant land department.
DE — Germany
KfW 300 (Wohneigentum für Familien) lends to families buying or building an energy-efficient first home at below-market interest. The Bundesförderung für effiziente Gebäude funds refurbishment through KfW 261, the KfW 458 Heizungsförderung for replacing a heating system, and BAFA grants for single measures. Households renovating their own home can instead claim the §35c EStG income tax reduction — but not both for the same work. Confirm current rates and income limits with KfW, BAFA and your Finanzamt.
FR — France
MaPrimeRénov', ANAH grants and the Certificats d'économies d'énergie premiums (including Coup de pouce Chauffage) fund energy renovation work, and the éco-prêt à taux zéro finances the balance interest-free. First-time buyers may qualify for the prêt à taux zéro, the Denormandie scheme rewards renovating in an eligible town centre, and qualifying energy renovation is invoiced at the reduced 5.5% VAT rate. Régions and communes add their own aid. Confirm current amounts with France Rénov' and l'Anah.
NL — Netherlands
The ISDE subsidy covers part of the cost of a heat pump, insulation, solar water heater or district-heating connection, and the Nationaal Warmtefonds Energiebespaarlening lends the balance — interest-free for lower incomes. Buyers can insure a mortgage under the Nationale Hypotheek Garantie, municipalities offer the Starterslening and Duurzaamheidslening through SVn, and solar panels for homes are supplied at 0% VAT. Businesses can claim EIA and MIA/Vamil deductions. Confirm current amounts with RVO and your gemeente.
SE — Sweden
Sweden supports construction work through the income tax system rather than cash grants. ROT-avdrag reduces tax on the LABOUR cost of renovation, extension and rebuilding work on a home you own and live in, and a separate green technology reduction covers solar panels, battery storage and EV charging points. Both are applied straight onto the contractor's invoice (fakturamodellen), so the contractor must hold F-skatt and the dwelling must meet the age and ownership conditions. Confirm current percentages and annual ceilings with Skatteverket.
CH — Switzerland
Das Gebäudeprogramm funds building-envelope refurbishment and heating replacement. It is financed from the CO₂ levy but administered canton by canton, so the eligible measures and contribution rates depend on where you build — and many cantons and communes add programmes of their own. Solar installations can claim the federal Einmalvergütung paid through Pronovo. Confirm the current Fördermenü with your cantonal energy office and Pronovo.
NO — Norway
Enova pays Enovatilskuddet for energy measures in an existing home, including solar panels and heat pumps; you pay for the work first and claim afterwards. Husbanken lends against boligkvalitet criteria for environmentally friendly homes and livsløpsboliger, and that lending is demand-rationed — the annual frame can run out, and the criteria were tightened for 2026. Confirm current rates, criteria and remaining budget with Enova and Husbanken.
DK — Denmark
Energistyrelsen runs two construction-relevant subsidy pools. Energirenoveringspuljen pays fixed rates for insulation, energy-efficient windows, balanced ventilation and water-borne heating in an owner-occupied year-round home with an energy label of D to G. Varmepumpepuljen pays a fixed amount for switching to an air-to-water or ground-source heat pump. Both are first-come first-served, must be applied for BEFORE work starts, and require a CVR-registered contractor. Confirm the current rate table and remaining budget at sparenergi.dk.
FI — Finland
Finland is a live market on RunMyBuild, but we do not yet publish a grant and incentive summary for it. Finnish housing support — for example ARA energy-renovation aid and assistance for converting away from oil heating — exists, and we will not describe amounts or conditions we have not verified against a primary source. Ask ARA, the Finnish Tax Administration and your municipality what applies to your build.
AT — Austria
The federal Sanierungsoffensive („Raus aus Öl und Gas“) funds replacing a fossil-fuel heating system, and the EAG investment grant supports photovoltaic systems and electricity storage through OeMAG. Housing construction and refurbishment aid (Wohnbauförderung) is set by each Bundesland, so what you can claim depends on the province. Both federal schemes run as funding calls with limited budgets and can close between calls. Confirm current rates and open calls with umweltfoerderung.at, OeMAG and your Land.
BE — Belgium
Renovation aid in Belgium is regional, and two of the three regional schemes are closing. Flanders runs Mijn VerbouwPremie — since 1 March 2026 the top two income bands qualify for heat pumps only. Wallonia's Primes Habitation close to new applications on 30 September 2026, and the Brussels RENOLUTION premium is already closed to new applications. Federally, demolition and reconstruction can be invoiced at 6% VAT instead of 21% under four separate tracks, each with its own surface caps and conditions. Confirm what is still open with your region.
ES — Spain
Spain's Plan Estatal de Vivienda funds refurbishment and protected housing, but it is run through each autonomous community's own calls, so the amounts and deadlines are regional. IDAE and the comunidades autónomas fund building energy refurbishment; homeowners can deduct part of the cost of qualifying energy-efficiency work from personal income tax (IRPF), which requires an energy performance certificate before and after; and deliveries of officially protected housing (VPO) carry the 4% super-reduced VAT rate. Confirm the open convocatoria with your comunidad autónoma, the Ministerio de Vivienda and the Agencia Tributaria.
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