Home renovation grants in Canada: Aid and eligibility requirements

Which renovation projects qualify for grants?

There are many reasons for renovating your home. Perhaps you want to modernize its decor, repair a defect or make it more comfortable and better suited to your needs. Since these are often costly projects, it’s a good idea to check whether you’re eligible for any home renovation grants.

The various levels of government offer grant programs to encourage certain types of work such as improving the energy efficiency, liveability or accessibility of a property. 

Eligibility criteria vary from one assistance program to another but generally take into consideration:

• Your type of residence (for example, a single-family home, a condo or social housing)
• Your household income
• The region you live in

What federal grants are available for home renovations?

Canada is one of the world’s most energy-intensive countries. To reverse this trend, there are several Canadian grant programs aimed at making homes more energy efficient. This type of assistance not only helps fight climate change, but also reduces your electricity bill. For example, households that have renovated their homes using the Canada Greener Homes Loan save an average of $386 per year on energy (external link).

• Canada Greener Homes Loan
  This interest-free loan of up to $40,000, repayable over 10 years, finances work to make your home more energy efficient. For example, you could improve wall insulation, replace doors and windows or opt to install smart thermostats, solar panels or a heat pump.
  → Learn more about the Canada Greener Homes Loan (external link)
• Canada Greener Affordable Housing program  
  If you own an apartment building occupied by lower-income households, you can take advantage of a low-interest loan to reduce its energy consumption by 70% and its GHG emissions by 80%. 
  → Learn about the Canada Greener Affordable Housing program (external link)
• Grants for the purchase of a heat pump   
  If you heat your home with oil, take advantage of this federal government program to help finance the purchase and installation of a heat pump. In addition to reducing your GHG emissions, you could save a lot on your electricity bill. 
  → Learn about the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program (external link) 
• Partial reimbursement of your mortgage insurance 
  If your mortgage is insured by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and you undertake energy-efficient renovations costing more than $20,000, you can get a 25% refund of your premium. 
  → Learn about CMHC’s Eco Improvement program (external link)

→ Visit the website for the Canada Greener Homes Initiative (external link) to learn about all the grants available.

What provincial grants are available for home renovations?

In addition to federal government assistance, you may be eligible for provincial programs for your home renovations. Your province probably offers grants to help you improve the energy efficiency of your home, whether by adding insulation or installing a heat pump or solar panel. You can also get a discount on a more efficient heating system or on certified ENERGY STAR® appliances.

Here are a few examples of grants offered in Quebec:

• Grants for improving the energy efficiency of your home
  You can receive financial assistance to improve the thermal insulation or weatherproofing of your home, replace its doors and windows or even its heating and ventilation system. Depending on the scope of your renovation project, you could qualify for a grant of up to several thousand dollars.
  → Learn more about the Rénoclimat program (external link)
• Grants for replacing your heating system
  This assistance program finances the replacement of your oil or propane heating system with a renewable energy solution such as electricity. Depending on the type of home and appliance being replaced, you could receive a grant of a few hundred dollars.
  → Learn more about the Chauffez vert program (external link)
• Support for improving the energy efficiency of your home 
  Whether you’re a homeowner or tenant, if you have a modest income, you could receive free advice on improving the energy efficiency of your home – and perhaps even benefit from free smart thermostat installation. 
  → Learn more about the Éconologis program (external link)

→ Visit the Main Directory of Energy Efficiency Programs in Canada (external link) to find the programs available in your province.

Here are other grants offered by the Quebec government for home renovations:

• Grants for repairing major defects 
  Do you live in a rural area in a home with a major defect? Depending on your income, you could get financial assistance of up to $25,000 to carry out work related to structural, plumbing or insulation issues, for example. 
  → Learn more about the RénoRégion Program (external link)
• Grants to control pyrrhotite 
  Is pyrrhotite threatening to crack the foundations of your home? This assistance program allows you to obtain an expert report and carry out work to remedy the situation.
  → Learn more about the Program for Residences Damaged by Pyrrhotite (external link)
• Residential adaptation program
  This grant finances the renovation of a home occupied by a person with a disability in order to facilitate their movements and daily activities. You could receive up to $12,000 for exterior work, such as the construction of an access ramp, and the same maximum amount for interior modifications, including a stairlift or a roll-in shower.
  → Learn more about the Residential Adaptation Assistance Program (external link)

What municipal grants are available for home renovations?

You may also be able to benefit from a support program run by your municipality. For example, the City of Montreal offers a grant of up to $20,000 for the renovation of single-family homes and up to $40,000 for the renovation of buildings with two to five dwellings. Visit your municipality’s website to find out what grants are available in your area. 

• Learn more about RénoPlex program (external link)

How do you apply for grants for your renovation project?

Follow these steps to take advantage of a program that can help finance your renovation work: 

• Check which subsidy programs are available at the federal, provincial and municipal levels for the type of renovation you have in mind. It may be possible to combine several grants to reduce the cost of your work.
• Make sure you meet the eligibility criteria and can adhere to the required deadlines.
• If necessary, call on the services of a specialized firm to carry out an energy assessment of your home and identify any improvements that need to be made.
• Gather the documents required to apply for the grant (invoices, quotes, etc.).
• Submit your grant application, including a copy of the energy assessment, a description of the planned work and an estimate of the expected costs.
• Make sure that the people you hire to do the work have the necessary qualifications, and keep all your invoices. Tip: take photos before and after the renovations.
• If necessary, have a new energy assessment done after the work to measure the improvements made.
• Submit your reimbursement request within the required time (generally, you must respect a deadline of six months to one year after the grant request). Include detailed invoices, photos, proof of payment and energy assessment reports, if required.

→  Check out our article on how to make a home renovation budget

Are there other ways to reduce the cost of your renovation project?

There are other measures that could help you save money. For example, the different levels of government offer tax credits for certain types of work. Find out if you’re eligible.

→ Check out our article on home renovation tax credits

Undertaking renovations can be stressful and costly. To avoid unpleasant surprises, it’s in your best interest to make a solid plan before starting the work.

There are several ways to finance your renovations. Would you like to discuss your project with us? Contact your National Bank advisor. Don’t have a specialist in charge of your file?