To learn more about the loans and incentives available through the Home Energy Loan Program (HELP), register for the HELP Information webinar on Wednesday, December 6, at 12 noon. Register now.
HELP makes it easy and affordable for homeowners to pay for home improvements over time and access rebates offered by utility companies and the Federal government. Once funding is approved, homeowners can hire the contractor of their choice and complete their renovations.
Note: Projects that include any of the following measures: solar, windows, geothermal and/or heat pumps are eligible for a 20-year term.
You may qualify for a low-interest loan through HELP if:
*If your property is subject to a mortgage, we will send you a customized Lender Consent Form.
You may combine HELP with energy efficiency rebates and incentives from the City of Toronto, the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada and utility companies. View all loans and rebates available.
Starting in 2023 a new application portal will be available on this page
Once the City receives and approves your application, we will send you a funding offer that states the maximum amount your property is eligible to receive through the Home Energy Loan Program (HELP). If your home is subject to a mortgage, we will provide a letter and form for you to give to your mortgage lender. Your mortgage lender’s consent is required before the City can send you a funding offer.
The assessment will include a basement-to-attic assessment of your home’s insulation, heating and cooling systems, and detect any air leaks or drafts.
When the assessment is complete, you will receive:
For a list of Energy Advisors and information on incentives and rebates available for home energy assessments, visit Enbridge Gas.
Determine which improvements you wish to make and get quotes from the contractor(s) of your choice, based on your goals, budget and recommendations of the Energy Advisor. Make sure you see which rebates and incentives are currently available from Enbridge Gas, Canada Greener Homes Grant and other service providers.
Your funding request will include:
Once the City has approved your Funding Request, we will send you a Property Owner Agreement (POA), which is the funding agreement between the property owner(s) and the City.
You must sign the POA and return to the City. Once the POA is approved by the City, we can provide, if requested, up to 30 per cent of the funds to help you get your project underway.
Homeowners assume full responsibility for the work performed, which includes selecting, hiring and paying contractors², and obtaining all required municipal and/or provincial permits, if applicable.
When your project is complete, book your post-retrofit home energy assessment with your Energy Advisor. The Advisor will verify the improvements and provide a new EnerGuide¹ rating for your home.
Submit a Project Completion Report signed by your Energy Advisor, along with your contractor’s invoices and your new EnerGuide rating label. The City will then provide you with the remaining funds for your project.
Once your project is complete, the City will notify you when your loan payments will begin. You will be enrolled in the City’s Pre-Authorized Tax Payment program and repay the City via 11 monthly instalments per year over the term of your loan. Loan payments made via the property tax bill are treated in the same manner and subject to the same penalties, remedies and lien priorities.
You may pay the outstanding balance to clear the loan from your property at any time during the loan term. Early repayment will be subjected to a Revenue Services service fee.
[¹] EnerGuide is an official mark of Natural Resources Canada
[²] The City has prepared Choosing a Contractor to assist you in this process.
The following processing times currently apply from the date of email or submission of all required program documents:
Request Type |
Estimated Lead Time |
|---|---|
| Email correspondence | 2 business days |
| Application review and response from the City | 5 – 7 business days |
| Funding offer after the City receives your approved Lender Consent | 5 – 7 business days |
| Creation of the Property Owners Agreement after the City receives your funding request | up to 15 business days |
| Project Completion review, final disbursement payment and file closure | 10 business days |
| Repayment of HELP | 60 days after file closure |
| Terms | Fixed Interest Rate |
|---|---|
| 5 years | 4.49% |
| 10 years | 4.64% |
| 15 years | 4.95% |
| 20 years** | 4.97% |
This chart estimates the monthly payments based on specific funding amounts.
| Loan Amount | 5 years | 10 years | 15 years | 20 years** |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $90 | $45 | $30 | $23 |
| $10,000 | $181 | $91 | $61 | $45 |
| $15,000 | $272 | $137 | $91 | $68 |
| $20,000 | $364 | $182 | $121 | $91 |
| $25,000 | $455 | $227 | $152 | $114 |
| $30,000 | $546 | $273 | $182 | $137 |
| $35,000 | $637 | $318 | $212 | $159 |
| $40,000 | $727 | $363 | $243 | $182 |
| $45,000 | $818 | $409 | $273 | $205 |
| $50,000 | $909 | $455 | $303 | $227 |
| $55,000 | $1,000 | $500 | $333 | $250 |
| $60,000 | $1,091 | $546 | $364 | $273 |
| $65,000 | $1,182 | $591 | $394 | $296 |
| $70,000 | $1,273 | $637 | $424 | $318 |
| $75,000 | $1,364 | $682 | $455 | $341 |
| $80,000 | $1,455 | $728 | $485 | $364 |
| $85,000 | $1,546 | $773 | $515 | $386 |
| $90,000 | $1,637 | $819 | $546 | $410 |
| $95,000 | $1,728 | $864 | $576 | $432 |
| $100,000 | $1,819 | $910 | $607 | $546 |
| $105,000 | $1,910 | $955 | $637 | $478 |
| $110,000 | $2,000 | $1,000 | $667 | $500 |
| $115,000 | $2,091 | $1,045 | $698 | $523 |
| $120,000 | $2,182 | $1,091 | $728 | $548 |
| $125,000 | $2,273 | $1,136 | $758 | $568 |
** 20-year amortization is only available for projects that include solar PV, geothermal installation, new windows and/or heat pumps.
Watch this short video to learn more.
Energy Advisors conduct EnerGuide home evaluations, which are required for HELP financing and most incentives and rebate programs in Ontario. To qualify for most programs, homeowners must obtain an EnerGuide home evaluation before starting their renovation project. Energy Advisors registered with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) deliver home labelling initiatives under a licencing agreement but operate as independent businesses and are not agents, partners, or employees of NRCan.
The following is a list of registered Energy Advisors or Service Organizations that can aid Toronto homeowners in accessing rebates, incentives and financing programs:
For errors or omissions, please email homeenergyloan@toronto.ca.
The City of Toronto’s Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) makes it easier for homeowners to take on high-cost renovations and pay for them over time as they save on their energy bills:
The following materials can help you spread the word about the low-interest loans available to homeowners through the City’s Home Energy Loan Program.
To request these materials, please email homeenergyloan@toronto.ca or call 416-392-1826.
To support a network of qualified contractors, renovators, and other design-build professionals to support Toronto’s net zero emissions by 2040 targets for single-family homes, the City of Toronto presents CHBA Net Zero Renovator Training for Renovators and Contractors.
Eligible participants must complete the three-workshop series:
Completing these workshops grants participants certification in each workshop, which is the first step in allowing them and their companies to build and renovate to the Net Zero standard.
To pre-register for the Spring 2023 cohort, please provide your details on the pre-registration page.
For questions about the CHBA Net Zero Renovator Training for Renovators and Contractors, please email BetterHomesTO@toronto.ca.
Note: The City of Toronto’s website is the only official source of information about the City’s SolarTO and Home Energy Loan Programs (HELP).