Better Homes Ottawa

Who is eligible?

• Property owners of detached, semi-detached, townhouse, or multi-unit residential buildings (three stories or less) located within the City of Ottawa
• Property owners offering affordable rental units in Ottawa

Who is not eligible

• Commercial or industrial companies are not eligible, as the program is targeted specifically at residential property owners.
• Properties involved in the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Mortgage Deferral Program or the City of Ottawa’s Tax Deferral Program are excluded.

Eligible expenses

• Installation of geothermal pumps and air-source heat pumps
• Insulation of the basement, attic, and walls
• Air sealing work (weather stripping, caulking, etc.)
• Replacement of windows and doors
• Solar water heating systems
• Installation of photovoltaic solar systems
• Energy storage in batteries
• Installation of level 2 charging stations for electric vehicles
• Residential improvements related to climate change adaptation (e.g.: permeable paving, basement waterproofing)
• Upgrades of electrical panels
• Creation of additional dwellings such as accessory apartments or basements (up to 30% of the total loan amount)

Eligible geographic areas

• Properties located within the City of Ottawa boundaries.

• Step 1: Pre-retrofit EnerGuide Assessment
  • Schedule and complete a pre-retrofit EnerGuide assessment for your home to obtain a NRCan EnerGuide rating and receive customized improvement recommendations.
• Step 2: Submit Application Form
  • Go to betterhomesottawa.ca and complete the Better Homes Ottawa - Loan Program Application Form.
• Step 3: Notice to Proceed
  • If your application meets the program's requirements, receive a Notice to Proceed and your Better Homes Loan Program File Reference Number (processing typically takes 1-2 weeks).
• Step 4: Apply for Rebates and Obtain Contractor Estimates
  • Apply for any available rebate or incentive programs you may qualify for.
  • Obtain estimates from contractors for eligible improvements (only costs incurred after receiving the Notice to Proceed are eligible).
• Step 5: Submit Funding Request and Property Owner Agreement
  • Submit your completed Funding Request Form and a signed Property Owner Agreement.
  • Optionally, request 50% of funds in advance to cover deposits (processing typically takes 3-5 weeks).
• Step 6: Complete Home Retrofit Project
  • Carry out the planned home energy retrofit or improvements.
  • Access retrofit project management support through EnviroCentre if desired (service fees may apply).
• Step 7: Post-retrofit EnerGuide Assessment
  • Schedule and complete a post-retrofit EnerGuide assessment to obtain an updated EnerGuide rating for your home.
• Step 8: Submit Project Completion Report
  • Provide a Project Completion Report that details your final project costs.
• Step 9: Receive Final Loan Disbursement
  • The City of Ottawa provides the remaining balance of the loan (processing typically takes 3-4 weeks).
• Step 10: Repay Loan
  • Repay the loan over time via your property tax bill.
  • You may choose to repay the loan in lump sum at any time without penalty.

• The program offers recurring monthly information sessions with City of Ottawa staff to provide updates and answer questions.
• The Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program can be combined with other energy efficiency rebate, incentive, and financing programs such as the Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate and Canada Greener Homes Loan.
• EnviroCentre offers home retrofit project management services for a fee to support applicants during their retrofit process.
• The program features a dedicated heat pump incentive to help reduce upfront costs for eligible participants.