Top 25 grants and rebates for property buyers and owners

The Westmar Team at Macdonald Realty is pleased to provide you with a list of resources with links to rebates 

and grants available to both residential homeowners and commercial property owners in the Lower Mainland. 

Many of the programs are available to anyone, and several that offer big savings on “green” products and 

improvements.

1. Home Buyers' Plan

Qualifying home buyers can withdraw up to $25,000 (couples can withdraw up to $50,000) from their RRSPs for

a down payment. Home buyers who have repaid their RRSP may be eligible to use the program a second time.

 

Canada Revenue Agency www.cra.gc.ca - Enter 'Home Buyers' Plan' in the search box. 1.800.959.8287

2. GST Rebate on New Homes

New home buyers can apply for a rebate of the federal portion of the HST (the 5% GST) if the purchase price is

less than $350,000. The rebate is up 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.

Canada Revenue Agency www.cra.gc.ca - Enter 'RC4028' in the search box. 1.800.959.8287

3. BC New Housing Rebate (HST)

Effective April 1, 2012, the BC HST new housing rebate threshold will be increased to $850,000, for a rebate of

up to $42,000 on newly built homes (an increase of 60% over the previous rebate). Purchasers of new 

secondary or recreational homes outside the Greater Vancouver and Capital regional districts priced up to 

$850,000 are now eligible to claim a provincial grant of up to $42,500 (effective April 1, 2012).

www.hstinbc.ca/buying_goods/buying_a_home/new_home_tax_calculator 1.800.959.8287

4. BC First-Time New Home Buyers Bonus (NEW!)

Effective February 21, 2012 to March 31, 2013, The BC government is implementing a temporary one-time 

refundable personal income tax credit worth up to $10,000. Visit the website below or call for more details and 

eligibility.

www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/individuals/Income_Taxes/Personal_Income_Tax/tax_credits/fthb_bonus.htm 

1.877.387.3332

5. BC New Rental Housing Rebate (HST)(UPDATED!)

Effective April 1, 2012, landlords buying new or substantially renovated housing are eligible for a rebate of 

71.43% of the provincial portion of the HST, up to $42,500 per unit.

www.hstinbc.ca/media/2012_housing_rules_.pdf 1.800.959.8287

6. BC Property Transfer Tax (PTT) First Time Home Buyers' Program

Qualifying first-time buyers may be exempt from paying the PTT of 1% on the first $200,000 and 2% on the

remainder of the purchase price of a home priced up to $425,000. There is a proportional exemption for

homes priced up to $450,000.

BC Ministry of Small Business and Revenue:

www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/business/Property_Taxes/Property_Transfer_Tax/ptt.htm 250.387.0604

7. First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit (HBTC)

This federal non-refundable income tax credit is for qualifying buyers of detached, attached, apartment 

condominiums, mobile homes or shares in a cooperative housing corporation. The calculation: multiply the 

lowest personal income tax rate for the year (15% in 2011) x $5,000. For the 2011 tax year, the maximum 

credit is $750.

www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/rtrn/cmpltng/ddctns/lns360-390/369/menu-eng.html 1.800.959.8281

8. BC Home Owner Grant

Reduces property taxes for home owners with an assessed value of up to $1,285,000. The basic grant gives

home owners:

- a maximum reduction of $570 in property taxes on principal residences in the Capital, Greater Vancouver 

and Fraser Valley regional districts;

 

- an additional grant of $770 to rural homeowners elsewhere in the province; and

 

- an additional grant of $275 to seniors aged 65+, those who are permanently disabled and war veterans of 

certain wars.

BC Ministry of Small Business and Revenue www.rev.gov.bc.ca/hog or contact your municipal tax office.

9. BC Property Tax Deferment Programs

- Property Tax Deferment Program for seniors. Qualifying home owners aged 55+ may be eligible to defer 

property taxes.

 

- Financial Hardship Property Tax Deferment Program. Qualifying low-income home owners may be eligible to

defer property taxes.

 

- Property Tax Deferment Program for Families with Children. Qualifying low income home owners who

financially support children under age 18 may be eligible to defer property taxes.

 

www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/individuals/Property_Taxes/Property_Tax_Deferment/ptd.htm

10. Canada Mortgage and Housing (CMHC) Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP)Grants.

This federal program provides financial aid to qualifying low-income home owners to repair substandard 

housing. Eligible repairs include heating, structural, electrical, plumbing and fire safety. Grants are available

for seniors, persons with disabilities, owners of rental properties and owners creating secondary and garden

suites.

www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/prfinas/prfinas_001.cfm 1.800.668.2642 604.873.7408

11. 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 mortgage or make energy saving 

renovations.

www.cmhc.ca/en/co/moloin/moloin_008.cfm#reno 604.731.5733

12. Energy Saving Mortgages

Financial institutions offer a range of mortgages to home buyers and owners who make their homes more 

energy efficient. For example, home owners who have a home energy audit within 90 days of receiving an 

RBC Energy SaverT Mortgage may qualify for a rebate of $300 to their RBC account.

www.rbcroyalbank.com/products/mortgages/energy-saver-mortgage.html 1.800.769.2511

13. Low Interest Renovation Loans

Financial institutions offer 'green' loans for home owners making energy efficient upgrades. Vancity's Bright

Ideas personal loan offers home owners up to $20,000 at prime + 1% for up to 10 years for 'green' 

renovations. 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.

For information visit your financial institution.

www.vancity.com/Loans/BrightIdeas and www.rbcroyalbank.com/products/personalloans/energy-saver-loan.html

14. LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program

Home owners improving the energy efficiency of their homes may qualify for cash incentives through this

provincial program provided in partnership with BC Hydro and FortisBC. Rebates are for energy efficient 

products which replace gas and oil furnaces, pumps, water heaters, wood stoves, insulation, windows, doors,

skylights and more. The LiveSmart BC program also covers $150 of the cost of a home energy assessment, 

directly to the service provider.

www.livesmartbc.ca/rebates 1.866.430.8765

15. BC Residential Energy Credit

Home owners and residential landlords buying heating fuel receive a BC government point-of-sale rebate on 

utility bills equal to the provincial component of the HST.

www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/business/consumer_taxes/residential_energy/residential_energy.htm 1.877.388.4440

16. BC Hydro Appliance Rebates

Mail-in rebates for purchasers of ENERGY STAR clothes washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, or freezers.

www.bchydro.com/rebates_savings/appliance_rebates.html 1.800.224.9376

17. BC Hydro Fridge Buy-Back Program

This ongoing program rebates BC Hydro customers $30 to turn in spare fridges in working condition.

www.bchydro.com/rebates_savings/fridge_buy_back.html 604.881.4357

18. BC Hydro Windows Rebate Program

Pay no HST when you buy ENERGY STAR high-performance windows and doors.

www.bchydro.com/rebates_savings/windows_offers/current_offers.htm 604.759.2759 for a free in-home 

estimate.

19. BC Hydro Mail-in Rebates/Savings Coupons

To save energy, BC Hydro offers rebates including 40% off energy saving toilets, 30%off water heater

insulation blankets, and more. Check for new offers and for deadlines.

www.bchydro.com/rebates_savings/coupons.html 1.800.224.9376

20. FortisBC Rebate Program

A range of rebates for home owners include a $75 rebate on select ENERGY STAR clothes washers, $300

rebate on an EnerChoice fireplace and a $1,000 rebate for switching to natural gas (from oil or propane) 

and installing an ENERGY STAR heating system. Check for current offers.

www.fortisbc.com/NaturalGas/Homes/Offers/Pages/default.aspx 1.888.224.2710

21. FortisBC Efficient Boiler Program

For commercial buildings, provides a cash rebate of up to 75% of the purchase price of an energy efficient 

boiler, for new construction or retrofits. Also receive a rebate of up to $15,000 on select commercial water 

heaters.

www.fortisbc.com/NaturalGas/Business/Offers/Pages/default.aspx 1.888.477.0777

22. City of Vancouver Rain Barrel Subsidy Program

The City of Vancouver provides a subsidy of 50% of the cost of a rain barrel for Vancouver residents. With the

subsidy, the rain barrel costs $75. Buy your rain barrel at the Transfer Station at 377 W. North Kent Ave., 

Vancouver, BC. Limit of two per household. Bring proof of residency.

vancouver.ca/engsvcs/watersewers/water/conservation/programs/rainbarrel.htm Dial 311 in Vancouver or 

604.873.7000 outside Vancouver city limits. Other municipalities have similar offers.

Richmond offers rain barrels to residents for $20 for 45 or 50 gallon units, with downspout diverters available 

for $16. Available from Richmond Recycling Depot at 5555 Lynas Lane, Richmond, BC. Limited supplies.

www.richmond.ca/services/rdws/water/savewater/rain-barrel.htm

23. City of Vancouver Greenest City 2020 Pilot Home Energy Loan Program

The City of Vancouver in cooperation with Vancity, FortisBC, BC Hydro and Natural Resources Canada offers 

access to loans for energy retrofits including heating systems, insulation and air sealing. The Home Energy 

Loan from Vancity is a 12month pilot program that will end October 21, 2012. For more information attend a 

workshop (see third link below). The goal is 500 homes and loans are offered at 4.5% fixed rate over 10 

years. The program also helps with accessing grants from the federal ecoENERGY program, the provincial 

LiveSmart BC program and FortisBC.

www.vancouver.ca/energyloan and www.vancity.com/Loans/homeenergy and http://energyloan.eventbrite.com

Email: energyloan@vancouver.ca 604.374.0507

24. Local Government Water Conservation Incentives

Your municipality may provide grants and incentives to residents to help save water. For example, the City 

of Coquitlam and Richmond offers residents a $100 rebate, and the City of North Vancouver, District of North

Vancouver, and District of West Vancouver offer a $50 rebate when residents install a low-flush toilet. Visit 

your municipality's website and enter 'toilet rebate' to see if there is a program.

Richmond rebate: http://www.richmond.ca/services/rdws/water/savewater/toiletrebate.htm 604.276.4179

25. Local Government Water Meter Programs

Your municipality may provide a program for voluntary water metering, so that you pay only for the amount 

of water that you use. Delta, Richmond and Surrey have programs and other municipalities may soon follow. 

Visit your municipality's website and enter 'water meter' to find out if there is a program.

Richmond info: http://www.richmond.ca/services/rdws/water/savewater/watermeter.htm 604.271.9700