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)

Buyers of new or substantially renovated homes priced up to $525,000 are eligible for a rebate of 71.43% of the

provincial portion (7%) of the 12% HST paid to a maximum rebate of $26,250. Homes priced at $525,000+ are

eligible for a flat rebate of $26,250.

www.hstinbc.ca/making_your_choice/faqs/new_housing_rebate

 

4 BC New Rental Housing Rebate (HST)

Landlords buying new or substantially renovated homes are eligible for a rebate of 71.43% of • 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.

 

5 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

 

6 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.

Canada Revenue Agency www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncmtx/rtrn/cmpltng/ddctns/lns360-

/369/menu-eng.html

1.800.959.8281

 

7 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.

 

8 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.

BC Ministry of Small Business and Revenue

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

 

9 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

 

10 Home Adaptations for Independence (HAFI)

A new program jointly sponsored by the provincial and federal governments provides up to $20,000 to help eligible

low-income seniors and disabled home owners and landlords to finance modifications to their homes to make

then accessible and safer.

BC Housing

www.bchousing.org/Options/Home_Renovations

604.646.7055 or toll-free

1.800.407.7757 extension 7055

 

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

Saver™ 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 renovation

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/personal/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 FortisBC, 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 10% off an ENERGY STAR cordless phone. 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 $50 rebate for upgrading a hot water tank, $300 rebate on an Ener-

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

STAR heating system.

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.

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 resident. Bring proof of residency.

http://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/watersewers/water/conservation/programs/rainbarrel.htm

604.736.2250

Other municipalities have similar offers.

 

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 12 month 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/energyloanand www.vancity.com/Loans/homeenergy and http://energyloan.eventbrite.com

Email: energyloan@vancouver.ca

604.374.0507

 

24 Vancity Green Building Grant

In partnership with the Real Estate Foundation of BC, Vancity provides grants up to $50,000 each to qualifying

charities, not-for-profit organizations and co-operatives for projects which focus on building renovations/retrofits,

regulatory changes that advance green building development, and education to increase the use of practical

green building strategies. The deadline for applications was January 23, 2012. If you are still interested in this

grant open the link, and consider contacting Vancity to express your interest.

www.vancity.com/MyCommunity/NotForProfit/Grants/ActingOnClimateChange/GreenBuildingGrant

604.877.7000

 

25 Local Government Water Conservation Incentives

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

Coquitlam 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.

 

26 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.