How We Handle Your Grants
The grants, guided and folded into the job — not left on your desk.
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01
Free consultation
We start with a free, no-obligation chat about your home and your plans, and where an energy upgrade or a council grant could fit.
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We map what you qualify for
We talk you through the grants that could apply — SEAI home-energy support and council vacant or derelict property grants — and fold them into the overall plan from the start.
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A registered agent runs the application
We work with a registered grant agent who runs the SEAI application process, so the paperwork is handled properly. We guide you through it rather than leaving you to navigate it alone.
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Grants offset the work
Where support is confirmed, it’s built into your quote and handled as part of the build — so the funding works for you instead of being chased afterwards.
The Grants Maze
The support is there. The paperwork isn’t the fun part.
Between SEAI energy grants and the council schemes for vacant and derelict homes, there’s real support out there for doing up an older Cork house — but the schemes, the eligibility rules and the forms are a maze, and it’s easy to leave money on the table or miss a deadline.
We take that off your plate. As part of your project we explain what’s available, help you see what you qualify for, and work with a registered grant agent who runs the SEAI application — so the grant side is guided and folded into the build, not a separate headache you’re left to sort out alone.
What We Help You Access
The grants that can support your project.
Depending on your home and your plans, the support that might apply includes:
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SEAI home-energy grants — unlocked by upgrading the home’s energy rating
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The council Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant (Croí Cónaithe), for a home that’s been vacant
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The derelict property top-up, where a property is on the derelict register
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Eligibility, guided — we help you work out what your project qualifies for
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The SEAI application, run by a registered grant agent we work with
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Council forms and documentation, guided as part of the project
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Grant funding folded into your quote, not chased afterwards
SEAI energy grants are tied to improving the home’s rating, so they usually go hand in hand with a home retrofit — while the council grants can support a wider renovation of a vacant or derelict Cork home. What applies to you depends on the property, whether you’re in Blackrock or out toward Carrigaline, and we work that out with you before anything’s committed.
Why TRC Homes
Grants handled as part of the build.
Chasing grants on your own, on top of managing a renovation, is where people get stuck. We fold it into the one project.
Guided, in plain terms
We explain what’s available in plain language and help you access what your project qualifies for — you’re never left to decode the schemes on your own.
We work with a registered grant agent
The SEAI application is run by a registered grant agent we work with, so it’s handled properly. TRC guides the process and does the building work — we don’t administer or approve grants ourselves.
An honest consultation
The first visit is free and no-pressure. We talk you through what’s realistic, what you might qualify for, and how it fits your budget before you commit.
Our Work
Built across Cork. Judged by the finish.
See a deep retrofit in detail.
In Their Words
Real Google reviews — TRC Homes was formerly The Renovation Centre.
The Energy Upgrade
Most energy grants start with the work.
SEAI support is tied to improving your home’s energy rating — so for most homeowners, accessing it means a retrofit. See how we take an older Cork house from a low rating toward a warm B2, with the grants guided alongside.
See home retrofitcoming soon
Common Questions
Home renovation grants in Cork — the questions we’re asked most.
What grants can I get for doing up a house in Cork?
Broadly, two kinds. SEAI home-energy grants support improving your home’s energy rating — insulation, windows, solar, a heat pump and so on — and the council runs grants for vacant and derelict homes, such as the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. Which ones apply depends on your property and your plans, and we help you work that out at the consultation.
What is the vacant property or derelict property grant?
It’s a council-run grant (the Croí Cónaithe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant) that supports doing up a home that has been vacant for a period, with extra support where a property is on the derelict register. It’s administered by Cork City or Cork County Council, and we help you understand it and pull the documentation together as part of your project. The amounts and eligibility are set by the council, so we point you to the current detail.
How does TRC help with grants?
We guide you and fold the grant side into your project — we don’t administer or approve grants ourselves. In practice that means we explain what’s available, help you see what you qualify for, and work with a registered grant agent who runs the SEAI application process, while we handle the building work and build any confirmed funding into your quote. TRC is a builder that guides you through grants, not a grant provider.
How do SEAI energy grants work?
SEAI grants are tied to improving your home’s energy rating, so they usually go hand in hand with a retrofit — upgrading insulation, airtightness, windows and heating to bring the house up toward a B2. You need approval before the work starts, which is why we sort the grant side up front. The application itself is run by a registered grant agent we work with, and the energy upgrade is set out on our home retrofit page.
Can the grant be folded into my renovation quote?
Yes. Where support is confirmed, we build it into your quote and handle it as part of the project, so the funding offsets the work rather than being something you chase separately afterwards. Because grant amounts depend on the property and the measures, we keep the figures to your actual quote rather than headline numbers.
Am I eligible?
It depends on the property. Council vacant and derelict grants have their own rules around how long a home has been vacant and when it was built, and SEAI support depends on the home’s current rating and the upgrade planned. Rather than guess, we assess your specific situation at the free consultation and are straight with you about what’s realistic.
Ready to start?
Answer three quick questions and we’ll be in touch.