Great grants and rebates for home buyers and owners
BC Property Transfer Tax (PTT) first-time home buyers’ program
Qualifying first-time buyers may be exempt from paying the PTT of 1 per cent on the first $200,000 and 2 per cent on the remainder of the purchase price of a resale home priced up to $500,000. There is a proportional exemption for homes priced between $500,000 and $525,000. At $525,000 and above there's no exemption. Foreign entities and taxable trustee are not eligible for the exemption.
Learn more. 1-888-355-2700.
BC Property Transfer Tax (PTT) 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.
Learn more. 1-888-355-2700.
BC Home Owner Grant
This grant reduces property taxes for home owners with an assessed or partitioned value up to $1.975 million. The grant is reduced by $5 for each $1,000 above the threshold. Properties up to $2,089,000 ($2,129,000 in northern and rural areas) can receive a partial grant. The grant is eliminated at $2,144,000 (basic grant) and $2,184,000 in northern and rural areas. The 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 and older, those who are permanently disabled, and veterans of certain wars.
Learn more. 1-888-355-2700 or hogadmin@gov.bc.ca
BC property tax deferment programs
- Property Tax Deferment Program for Seniors: qualifying home owners aged 55 and older 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.
Learn more. Vancouver: 604-660-2421. Elsewhere in BC: 1-800-663-7867.
CMHC First-time Home Buyers’ Incentive
Qualifying first-time home buyers with household incomes less than $120,000 a year and a five per cent down payment a 10 per cent shared equity mortgage for a newly constructed home OR a five per cent shared equity mortgage for an existing home. The buyer repays the incentive later or at re-sale. The incentive reduces the amount of monthly mortgage payments. Extended to March 31, 2025.
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.
Tax-Free First Home Savings Account
This is an upcoming program where first-time home buyers can save up to $40,000 tax-free. Like RRSPs, contributions are tax-deductible. Withdrawals to buy a first home, including investment income, are non-taxable, like a TFSA. Tax-free in, tax-free out.
GST/HST New Housing Rebate
New home buyers can apply for a rebate for the five per cent GST if the purchase price is $350,000 or less. The rebate is equal to 36 per cent of the GST to a maximum rebate of $6,300. There is a proportional GST rebate for new homes that cost between $350,000 and $450,000. There’s no rebate for homes priced at $450,000 and above.
Learn more. 1-800-959-8287.
First-time home buyers’ tax credit
Eligible home buyers can claim up to $10,000 on Line 369 of Schedule 1 when filing their income tax and benefit returns. For homes purchased on or after January 1, 2022, the maximum home buyers’ tax credit is $1,500, which is calculated by multiplying the home buyers’ amount of $10,000 by the federal non-refundable tax credit rate of 15 per cent (equal to the lowest personal income tax rate for the year).
Learn more. 1-800-959-8281.
CMHC mortgage loan insurance premium refund
This program provides home buyers with CMHC mortgage insurance, a 15 or 25 per cent 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.
Provincial rent bank
Interest-free loans for tenants in urgent circumstances so they don't lose their homes and property, owners with suites and laneway homes can collect rent.
Municipal rent bank programs
Home Adaptations for Independence (HAFI)
A 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 finance modifications to their homes to make them accessible and safer.
Learn more. 604-433-2218 or 1-800-257-7756.
BC Seniors’ home renovation tax credit
This credit assists eligible seniors 65 and older with the cost of eligible permanent home renovations to a principal residence to improve accessibility. The maximum refundable credit is $1,000 per tax year and is calculated as 10 per cent of the qualifying renovation expense (maximum $10,000). Forms are available online.
Learn more. 1-800-959-8281.
Home accessibility tax credit
Doubles the qualifying expense limit of qualifying home renovations up to $20,000 for 2022 and subsequent years. This tax credit is up to $3,000 for accessibility renovations or alterations.
Energy saving mortgages
Low interest green renovation loans
Clean BC plan
This plan is a new $679 million program of the BC Government that provides a range of incentives including up to $8,000 for buyers of electric vehicles, and $2,000 to replace a fossil fuel heating system.
Rebates for home, workplace EV charging
The province offers homeowners a rebate up to 75 per cent of purchase/installation costs of an EV charger to a max of $350. Workplaces/residents of condos/apartments rebate up to 75 per cent to a max of $5,000 per station. Up to 5 hours free support services from an EV charging station advisor.
Energy efficient buildings
There are incentives offered to households and businesses for installing high-efficiency heating equipment and building envelope improvements. A partnership of BC Hydro, Fortis BC and BC Housing.
BC Hydro and FortisBC rebates to improve a home’s efficiency
BC Hydro and FortisBC offer a wide range of rebates for heat pumps, insulation, draft-proofing, hot water heaters, and a $300 bonus offer for making two eligible upgrades within 18 months.
FortisBC new home energy rebate offer
FortisBC and BC Hydro customers can receive rebates when building ENERGY STAR new homes or installing high-efficiency natural gas fireplaces.
Home energy rebate offer
BC Hydro and FortisBC offer home owners rebates for upgrades and improvements, including insulation, space and water heating systems, and ventilation to reduce your energy bill. They also include a bonus offer for completing three or more upgrades. Total value of available rebates: up to $10,000.
Learn more. 1-877-740-0055.
Energy savings kits
FortisBC Rebate for rental apartment buildings
The Rental 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.
Join the Power Smart Team
Become a member of Team Power Smart and start a challenge to reduce your electricity use by 10 per cent over the next year. If you’re successful you’ll earn a $50 reward.
ENERGY STAR appliance rebates
BC Hydro Power Smart and participating municipalities offer $100 mail-in rebates to home owners buying ENERGY STAR clothes dryers and refrigerators.
FortisBC rebate program for businesses
For commercial buildings, you can save up to $500,000 for constructing high-performance, energy efficient commercial, multi-unit residential or industrial buildings and up to $1 million for industrial building energy-efficient upgrades.
Rain barrel subsidy programs
Local government water meter programs
Municipalities may offer water metering, so you pay only for the amount of water you use. Richmond and West Vancouver have programs. Visit your municipality’s website and search 'water meter'.
Wood stove exchangeprogram
$250 for changing to a cleaner burning wood stove; $400 for changing to a qualifying electric heat pump, gas or propane stove, or pellet-fuelled stove; and $500 for those who live in 'Red Zone' communities.
