Vacant Property Grant Renovations
in Cork and Galway
An empty house can become a home again. We take care of the renovation from the first site visit to the final finish.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, also known as the Croí Cónaithe grant, is a government scheme run through local councils to help bring empty and derelict homes back into use. If you purchase or own a property that has been sitting idle for years, the vacant property grant can cover a large part of the cost of making it liveable again, whether you plan to move in yourself or rent it out.
IVCG carries out renovation work on vacant and derelict properties in Cork and Galway. To be clear from the start, we do not apply for or manage the grant. That part is between you and your council. What we do is the work itself, from the first site visit and quote right through to the finished renovation, with one point of contact the whole way.
How Much You Can Get: Vacant vs Derelict
The Croí Cónaithe grant works on two tiers, depending on the condition of the property.
Vacant Property Grant
To qualify, the property must have been empty for at least two years and built before 2008. The grant goes towards refurbishing the property so it can be lived in again, either as your own home or as a rental. The amount includes VAT, and if the works cost more than the grant, you cover the balance. The scheme does not fund knocking a property down and building a new one in its place.
Derelict Property Top-Up
If the property is derelict, a top-up of up to €20,000 can be added to the €50,000, bringing the maximum to €70,000. This is not a second grant. It is the same vacant property refurbishment grant with a higher ceiling for properties in worse condition.
To qualify for the top-up, you need one of two things. The first is an independent report from a qualified professional confirming the property is structurally unsound and dangerous. The second is confirmation that it is already on the council’s Derelict Sites Register. If you’re applying for the derelict property grant, you indicate this on the application form.
Who Applies for the Grant, and What IVCG Does
The grant and the renovation are two separate jobs, and it helps to know who handles which.
What You Do as the Homeowner
You apply for the vacant property grant through your local council. Applications come from named individual owners only, so companies can’t apply. You’ll need proof that the property has been vacant for at least two years, along with proof of ownership. If you’re going for the derelict house grant in Ireland, you’ll also need the derelict evidence, since the top-up is part of the same application. Once the works are finished, you claim the grant from the council.
What IVCG Does
We visit the property and give you a free on-site quote, which you’ll need for your application. Once the council has approved the grant in writing, we carry out the renovation. We coordinate the trades involved, so you only ever deal with one point of contact. We do not apply for or manage the grant on your behalf. That stays with you and your council, so there’s never any confusion about who is responsible for what.
Additional Grants for Your Vacant or Derelict Property
SEAI home energy grants are a separate scheme from the council grant, with their own applications, and you can use them on the same property. The one rule to keep in mind is that the same work can’t be funded twice. Anything covered by an SEAI grant needs to be kept separate from the work in your council application.
Insulation Grants
Attic insulation grants go up to €2,000 and cavity wall insulation grants go up to €1,800. These are the maximums for a detached home, and other property types get smaller amounts.
Heat Pump Grant
Up to €12,500 towards a heat pump system.
Windows and Doors Grants
Up to €4,000 for windows and up to €1,600 for doors, made up of €800 each for up to two doors. Your insulation needs to be in place before you can claim these.
Solar Grants
Solar PV grants go up to €1,800. Solar thermal grants go up to €1,200, and these systems heat your water rather than generating electricity.
Working With an SEAI Registered Installer
IVCG has experience on major upgrade projects that combine the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant with SEAI energy grants, so we know how the two fit together on site. We are not SEAI registered ourselves, and each SEAI funded measure has to be carried out by an installer registered for that measure. We are happy to coordinate with your SEAI registered installer, planning the wider renovation around their work so the whole process runs as smoothly and quickly as possible. It’s worth agreeing the order of works early, because insulation has to go in first.
How to Apply in Cork or Galway
Applications for the vacant house grant go to the council that covers the property. Each council has a Vacant Homes Officer who can answer questions about eligibility and the application. It’s worth speaking to them before you start gathering documents, as they can tell you exactly what your council needs.
Cork City Council
If your property is in Cork City, contact the Vacant Homes Office at Cork City Council by emailing vacantproperties@corkcity.ie. They can help with questions about eligibility, the forms and the documents you’ll need. More information on the scheme is available on corkcity.ie.
Galway City Council
For properties in Galway City, contact the Vacant Homes Officer at Galway City Council on vacanthomes@galwaycity.ie. You’ll find details of the vacant homes grant on galwaycity.ie, and the scheme outline and application form are also available on gov.ie.
If your property falls under Cork County Council or Galway County Council instead, get in contact and we can confirm whether it’s within reach.
Our Renovation Process for Vacant and Derelict Properties
Here’s how a typical project runs, from checking eligibility to claiming the grant.
1. Confirm Your Eligibility
Check that the property has been empty for two years or more, was built before 2008 and is in your name as owner. If you’re going for the top-up, have your derelict evidence ready too.
2. Free On-Site Quote From IVCG
We visit the property and give you a clear quote for the works. The quote goes in with your application.
3. Apply Through Your Council
You submit your vacant property grant application to your local council. IVCG isn’t involved in this step.
4. Receive Written Approval
The council confirms the grant in writing. No works start until you have that approval.
5. Renovation Works Carried Out
We carry out the renovation, with one point of contact keeping you updated from start to finish.
6. Grant Claimed on Completion
Once the works are finished, you claim your grant through the council, whether that’s the standard vacant property grant or the derelict property grant top-up.
Why Homeowners Choose IVCG
An empty or derelict property is rarely a simple job. Older homes that have sat idle for years tend to hold a few surprises once work begins, and that’s when it matters who you have on site. When you bring IVCG in, you get a team that’s fully committed from the first visit to the final finish. Everything runs through one point of contact, so you’re never chasing separate trades for updates or answers. We keep you informed as the work moves along, and the job isn’t done until it’s right. For a house that’s been waiting years to be lived in again, that’s the standard it deserves.
Clear Communication
You’ll always know where your project stands. One point of contact throughout, no surprises along the way.
Over 130 Five-Star Reviews on Google
The work speaks for itself. IVCG have built a 5.0 rating across more than 130 verified Google reviews from customers across Cork.
Licensed and Fully Insured
You’re fully covered from start to finish, for both residential and commercial work.
Free On-Site Quote
We come to you, assess the project properly, and give you a clear quote before any work begins. No obligation to proceed.
Vacant and Derelict Property Grant FAQs
Get in Contact with IVCG
Whether your property is in Cork or Galway, fill in the form below and your enquiry will go straight to the right team. We’ll arrange a time to visit and give you a free on-site quote.
