34 Great Grants and Rebates for Home Buyers, Owners and Renters
1. BC Property Transfer Tax (PTT) First-Time Home Buyers’ Program Qualifying first-time buyers may be exempt from paying the PTT (1% on the first $200,000 and 2% on the remainder of the purchase price of a resale home priced up to $500,000. Proportional exemption for homes priced $500,000 - $525,000. At $525,000+ no exemption. Foreign entities, taxable trustee ineligible. 1-888-355-2700. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/property-taxes/property-transfer-tax/exemptions/first-time-home-buyers
2.BC Property Transfer Tax Newly Built Home Exemption Qualifying buyers of new homes may be exempt from paying the PTT on a newly built home or newly subdivided unit priced up to $750,000 and a partial exemption on newly built homes priced $750,000 to $800,000. 1-888-355-2700. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/property-taxes/property-transfer-tax/exemptions/newly-built-home-exemption
3. BC Home Owner Grant Reduces property taxes for home owners with an assessed or partitioned value up to $1.65 million. Grant reduced by $5 for each $1,000 above the threshold; eliminated at $1.764 million (basic grant) and $1.819 million (additional grant). Basic grant: • up to $570 for principal residences in the Capital, Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley regional districts; • an additional grant of $200 to rural home owners elsewhere in BC; and • an additional grant of $275 to seniors aged 65+, those permanently disabled, and veterans of certain wars. [email protected]. 1-888-355-2700.
4. BC Property Tax Deferment Programs• Property Tax Deferment Program for Seniors: qualifying home owners aged 55+ can defer property taxes. • Property Tax Deferment Program for Families with Children:qualifying home owners who financially support children under age 18 can defer property taxes. Vancouver: 604-660-2421. Elsewhere in BC: 1-800-663-7867.
5. CMHC First-time Home Buyers’ Incentive Qualifying first-time home buyers with annual household incomes <$120,000 and a 5% down payment, a 10% shared equity mortgage for a newly constructed home OR a 5% shared equity mortgage for an existing home. Buyer repays the incentive later or at re-sale. Incentive reduces the amount of monthly mortgage payments. https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2019/03/20/new-program-help-100000-canadian-families-buy-their-first-home
6. Home Buyers’ Plan Qualifying home buyers can withdraw up to $35,000 (couples can withdraw up to $70,000) from their RRSPs for a down payment. Home buyers who have experienced a breakdown in their marriage or common-law partnership even if they are not first-time buyers and those who have repaid their RRSP may be eligible to use the program a second time. Canada Revenue Agency.
7. GST/HST New Housing Rebate New home buyers can apply for a rebate for the 5% GST if the purchase price is $350,000 or less. The rebate is equal to 36% of the GST to a maximum rebate of $6,300. There is a proportional GST rebate for new homes costing between $350,000 and $450,000. There is no rebate for homes priced at $450,000+. Canada Revenue Agency. 1-800-959-8287. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/publications/rc4028/gst-hst-new-housing-rebate.html
8. First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit (HBTC) Eligible persons who bought a qualifying home can claim the home buyers’ amount of $5,000 on Line 369 of Schedule 1 when filing their 2019 income tax and benefit returns. For 2019, the maximum home buyers’ tax credit (HBTC) is $750, which is calculated by multiplying the home buyers’ amount of $5,000 by the federal non-refundable tax credit rate of 15% (equal to the lowest personal income tax rate for the year). 1-800-959-8281 https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-return/completing-a-tax-return/deductions-credits-expenses/line-31270-home-buyers-amount.html
9. COVID-19 Mortgage Payment Deferral (CMHC) Homeowners left without a job or with reduced hours may be eligible for a temporary mortgage payment deferral up to six months. Mortgage payments must be repaid and have to resume according to the regular payment schedule. https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/finance-and-investing/mortgage-loan-insurance/the-resource/covid19-understanding-mortgage-payment-deferral
10. CMHC Mortgage Loan Insurance Premium Refund Provides home buyers with CMHC mortgage insurance, a 10% premium refund and possible extended amortization without surcharge when buyers purchase an energy efficient home or make energy saving renovations. Learn more. 604-731-5733. https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/finance-and-investing/mortgage-loan-insurance/the-resource/energy-efficient-housing-made-more-affordable-with-mortgage-loan-insurance
11. Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy Businesses, charities, and non-profits with declining revenue can access up to 65% for eligible expenses, including rent and interest on commercial mortgages. Support to tenants and property owners until June 2021. Claims can be retroactive to Sept. 27, 2020.
12. Municipal rent bank programs Provides one-time interest-free loans to eligible families/individuals in temporary financial crisis at risk of eviction or utility disconnection due to a temporary shortage of funds, for example, the Vancouver Rent Bank. Check your local municipality.
13. Home Adaptations for Independence (HAFI)Joint federal/provincial government program provides up to $20,000 to eligible low-income seniors and disabled home owners and landlords finance modifications to their homes to make them accessible and safer. Learn More. 604-433-2218 or 1-800-257-7756.
14. BC Seniors’ Home Renovation Tax Credit Assists eligible seniors 65+ with the cost of eligible permanent home renovations to a principal residence to improve accessibility. Maximum refundable credit: $1,000 per tax year, calculated as 10% of the qualifying renovation expense (maximum $10,000). Forms are available online. 1-800-959-8281.
15. Energy saving mortgages Some financial institutions offer special mortgages to home buyers/owners making homes energy efficient. For example, home owners may qualify for a BMO Eco Smart Mortgage™ or a TD Canada Trust rural property mortgage.
16. Low interest green renovation rebates and loans Financial institutions offer loans to home owners making energy efficient upgrades, for example, Vancity Home Energy rebate up to $2,000 and RBC’s Energy Saver loan offers 1% off the interest rate for a fixed rate installment loan over $5,000 or a $100 rebate on a home energy audit on a fixed rate installment loan over $5,000. Visit your financial institution.
17.Clean BC PlanA new $679 million program of the BC Government provides a range of incentives including up to $6,000 for buyers of electric vehicles, and $2,000 to replace a fossil fuel heating system.
18. Energy Efficient Buildings Incentives for households and businesses installing high-efficiency heating equipment and building envelope improvements. A partnership of BC Hydro, Fortis BC and BC Housing.
19. BC Hydro and FortisBC rebates to improve a home’s efficiencyRebates for heat pumps and insulation, draft-proofing, hot water heaters, and a $300 bonus offer for making two eligible upgrades within 18 months.
20. FortisBC new home energy rebate offerFortisBC and BC Hydro customers can receive rebates when building ENERGY STAR new homes or installing high-efficiency natural gas fireplaces. https://www.fortisbc.com/rebates-and-energy-savings/rebates-and-offers?l=
21. Home energy rebate offer BC Hydro and FortisBC offer home owners rebatesfor upgrades and improvements, including insulation, space and water heating systems and ventilation to reduce your energy bill. Includes a bonus offer for completing three or more upgrades. Total value: up to $10,000. Learn more. 1-877-740-0055.
22. Energy savings kitsBC Hydro and FortisBC offer income-qualifying customers a free energy saving kit containing products to help save energy and dollars.
23. FortisBC Rebate for rental apartment buildingsRental Apartment Efficiency Program for owners and managers of rental apartment buildings of nine or more units includes a new water-efficient shower head and kitchen and bathroom faucet aerator for each unit, an energy assessment and ongoing professional assistance. Learn more.
24. Join the Power Smart TeamBecome a member of Team Power Smart and start a challenge to reduce your electricity use by 10% over the next year. If you’re successful you’ll earn a $50 reward. Learn more.
25. ENERGY STAR appliance rebatesBC Hydro Power Smart and participating municipalities offer $100 mail-in rebates to home owners buying ENERGY STAR clothes dryers, and refrigerators. Learn more.
26. BC Hydro rate decrease and one-time bill creditCustomers receive a 0.61% rate decrease retroactive to April 1, 2020 and a one-time bill credit early in 2021. 604-928-6468. Learn more.
27. Leaders in Energy Management ProgramPartners BC Hydro with large commercial, government and institutional customers spending $200,000 or more a year. Customers gain access to energy management programs, tools, and incentives. Learn more. 1-800-522-4713.
28. Business Energy Saving Incentives Provides financial incentives to organizations that replace inefficient technologies with energy efficient technologies. Learn more.1-800-474-6886.
29. FortisBC rebate program for businesses For commercial buildings, save up to $500,000 for constructing high-performance, energy efficient commercial, multi-unit residential or industrial buildings; up to $1 million for industrial building energy-efficient upgrades. Learn more.
30.City of VancouverBuilding Energy Retrofit Fund Program includes $1 million to support and expand programs that result in energy efficiency upgrades for buildings. Includes a Green Landlord Program to help non-market apartment building owners and operators reinvest in buildings and reduce energy costs. Learn more.
31. Rebates for home, workplace EV charging Province offers homeowners a rebate up to 50% of purchase/installation costs of an EV charger to a max of $700. Workplaces/residents of condos/apartments rebate up to 50% of costs to a max of $4,000 per charger. Up to 5 hours free support services from an EV charging station advisor for condos/apartments/workplaces. Visit: https://cleanbc.gov.bc.ca/; https://goelectricbc.gov.bc.ca/
32. Rain barrel subsidy programs Metro Vancouver municipalities offer rain barrels for sale at a discount for residents:Richmond - $30; Burnaby - $100. Other municipalities may have similar offers.
33. Water saving kits Metro Vancouver municipalities offer water saving kits. Contact municipalities such as Burnaby, and Delta.
34. Local government water meter programs Municipalities may offer water metering, so you pay only for the amount of water you use. Burnaby (scroll down), Delta,Richmond, and West Vancouver have programs. Visit your municipality’s website and search ‘water meter.’