Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program
Run by City of Ottawa (with EnviroCentre) · Also called BHOLP
The Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program offers homeowners and landlords low-interest loans of up to $125,000 for heat pumps, insulation, air sealing and more in Ottawa, Ontario. You need an energy assessment before any work starts.
Loans up to
$125,000
A typical 3-ton system: about $2,100
Verified
You apply on betterhomesottawa.ca
At a glance
| Maximum amount | $125,000 CAD (2026)Loans up to $125,000 at 4.33% fixed |
|---|---|
| Funding type | Loan |
| Status | Open |
| Who can apply | Homeowners, Landlords |
| Energy assessment required | Yes, before you start |
| Income-tested | No |
| Deadline | No end date published |
| Where | Ottawa, Ontario |
| Level | Municipal |
| Run by | City of Ottawa (with EnviroCentre) |
| Official page | betterhomesottawa.ca/rebate-and-incentive-programs/better-homes-loan-program |
| Last verified | |
| Verified by | Rebate Researcher, RebateHub |
| Confidence | HighEvery figure matches the official program pages. |
Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program. RebateHub.ca, https://rebatehub.ca/rebates/on-ottawa-better-homes-loan#key-facts. Last verified October 12, 2026. Official source: https://betterhomesottawa.ca/rebate-and-incentive-programs/better-homes-loan-program/
What you can get
| Upgrade | What you get | Up to |
|---|---|---|
| Retrofit loan$10,000 to $125,000 (or 10% of assessed value, if lower)4.33% fixed for 20 years, plus a 4% administration fee. No penalty for early repayment. | $10,000 to $125,000 (or 10% of assessed value, if lower) | $125,000 |
| Cold-climate air-source heat pump incentive$700 per tonLimited time. Must be NRCan-listed, at least 12,000 BTU/h, maintain at least 80% capacity in the cold, and be rated 55 dB or less in cooling. | $700 per ton | Varies |
| Ground-source heat pump incentive$1,000 per ton + $5 per metre of well or loopLimited time. Must be NRCan-listed and rated 55 dB or less in cooling. | $1,000 per ton + $5 per metre of well or loop | Varies |
| EnerGuide assessment loan reduction$600Limited time. Not available if you receive the Home Renovation Savings $600 assessment rebate. | $600 | $600 |
What a typical home gets
| Heat pump | 2 tons | 3 tons | 4 tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold-climate air-source heat pump incentive | $1,400 | $2,100 | $2,800 |
| Ground-source heat pump incentive | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,000 |
How it works
Better Homes Ottawa offers 20-year, fixed-rate financing for energy retrofits, repaid as a local improvement charge on your property tax bill. It covers insulation, air sealing, ENERGY STAR windows and doors, green roofs, air-source and ground-source heat pumps, heat or energy recovery ventilators, thermostats, duct sealing, efficient water heaters, solar PV, battery storage, Level 2 EV chargers, and water-efficiency and flood-protection measures. Gas-fired equipment such as furnaces and gas water heaters is not eligible. A rental suite can be financed up to 30% of the loan.
You apply first and receive a Notice to Proceed; only costs after that date count. A pre-retrofit EnerGuide assessment is required, and you can request 50% of the estimated project cost up front, with interest charged only on the advance until the final payment. Projects should be finished within a year, and a 6-month extension is available.
For a limited time the program also pays heat pump incentives and a $600 loan reduction for completing EnerGuide assessments. You cannot get that reduction if you receive the $600 assessment rebate from Home Renovation Savings.
Who qualifies
- Detached, semi-detached, townhouse or multi-unit residential building of 3 storeys or less in Ottawa with a City property tax account.
- Property taxes, utilities and other City accounts in good standing for the past 5 years; owners with less history need a credit score of at least 600.
- Not in CMHC's mortgage deferral program or the City's tax deferral program.
- Only costs incurred after the Notice to Proceed are eligible.
How to apply
Step 1: Submit the online application at betterhomesottawa.ca. Review takes about two weeks.
Step 2: Receive the Notice to Proceed, then complete a pre-retrofit EnerGuide assessment and collect quotes.
Step 3: Submit a Funding Request and sign the Property Owner Agreement. Up to 50% can be advanced up front.
Step 4: Complete the work and the post-retrofit EnerGuide assessment, then submit the Project Completion Report.
Step 5: Receive the final payment (about 4 weeks). The charge starts on your June property tax bill in the year after the project is finished and runs for 20 years.
Get quotes from Ontario installers
Free, no obligation. We pass your request to up to 3 independent installers who serve your area and, where a program requires it, are registered with it.
- 1. Your project
- 2. Your contact details
- Installers checked against your program’s contractor list, where it has one
- Installers pay us, never you
- Sent to up to 3 installers who serve your area. We don't sell or rent lists.
Book an energy assessment
Many rebates need an EnerGuide assessment before any work starts. We'll pass your request to up to 2 energy advisors who serve your area. Free to ask, no obligation; the advisor quotes their fee, and some programs rebate part of it.
- 1. Your project
- 2. Your contact details
- Book it before you sign any contract. Work done before the assessment can disqualify you.
- Energy advisors pay us, never you
- Sent to up to 2 installers who serve your area. We don't sell or rent lists.
Stacks with BHOLP
The program says these can be combined with it for the same home. Check each one’s rules for the same upgrade before you count on both.
- Last verified October 12, 2026OpenProvincialOntario
Home Renovation Savings Program
Ontario's main home-retrofit rebate program. You can claim single upgrades such as a heat pump, attic insulation, solar with a battery, a smart thermostat or ENERGY STAR appliances without an energy assessment, or do an assessment and two or more upgrades for envelope rebates.
$12,000
max rebate
Rebate - Last verified October 12, 2026OpenProvincialOntario
Peak Perks
Get $75 for enrolling an eligible smart thermostat that controls central air or a heat pump, then $20 for each year you stay enrolled. On a few hot weekday afternoons, your cooling is adjusted slightly.
$75
max rebate
Rebate
Also worth checking
- Last verified October 12, 2026OpenFederalCanada-wide
Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program
Federally funded, no-cost home energy upgrades for low- and median-income homeowners and tenants. You apply through your province's or utility's partner program, not through Ottawa.
Free
Free upgrade - Last verified October 12, 2026OpenFederalCanada-wide
CMHC Eco Plus
A 25% refund of your CMHC mortgage insurance premium when you buy a newly built, energy-efficient home with a CMHC-insured mortgage.
Varies
Rebate - Last verified October 12, 2026OpenProvincialOntario
Energy Affordability Program
Income-qualified Ontario electricity customers can get free energy upgrades. These range from free saving kits to a full home visit that can include new appliances, insulation, draft-proofing and, for electric or oil-heated homes, a cold-climate heat pump.
Free
Free upgrade - Last verified October 17, 2026OpenUtilityKitchener
Kitchener Utilities Natural Gas Rebates
Kitchener Utilities, the City of Kitchener's own gas utility, gives its residential customers a $75 bill credit for a smart thermostat and a $500 bill credit for upgrading to a condensing gas water heater.
$575
max rebate
Rebate