Home Energy Loan Program

You may qualify for a low-interest loan through HELP if:

• you own a detached, semi-detached, or row house in the City of Toronto (the property’s postal code must start with an “M”);
• all of the property owners on title consent to participate in the program;
• no late property tax and utility payments to the City in the past five years; and
• you obtain written consent from your mortgage lender if applicable*.

*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.

Step 1: Complete an Application Form

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.

Step 2: Home Energy Assessment and Funding Request

a. Book a home energy assessment with an Energy Advisor registered by Natural Resources Canada

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:

• a Renovation Upgrade Report with recommendations for specific improvements
• an EnerGuide¹ rating based on your home’s current energy performance
• information on available incentives and rebates

For a list of Energy Advisors and information on incentives and rebates available for home energy assessments, visit Enbridge Gas.

b. Submit your funding request

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:

• a list of the improvements you intend to undertake;
• details and cost estimates based on contractor quote(s); and
• the estimated incentive and rebate amounts available to you from the utility companies.

Step 3: Property Owner Agreement

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.

Step 4: Complete Your Improvements and Submit Your Project Completion Report

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.

Step 5: Repay the Loan Over Time Via your property tax bill

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.

• An administrative charge of two per cent (2%), which reflects the City’s cost of administering the program, will be added.
• The loan’s value, which will include the funding amount, interest, and an administrative charge, cannot exceed 10 per cent of the current value assessment (CVA) for your property, or $125,000, whichever is less.
• Interest rates are fixed and will not fluctuate over the term.
• Homeowners will repay the loan via their property tax bill and can pay it off anytime.

This chart estimates the monthly payments based on specific funding amounts.

** 20-year amortization is only available for projects that include solar PV, geothermal installation, new windows and/or heat pumps. 

Five Reasons to Choose HELP

1. Enjoy low-interest rates and repayment terms of up to 20 years.
2. Avoid the large upfront costs of home energy improvements and pay for them over time as you save on your energy bills.
3. Repay the loan via installments on your property tax bill. You can pay off the loan at any time.
4. Receive ongoing support from the HELP team and assistance accessing additional rebates incentives from the Province of Ontario, the Federal Government and utility companies.
5. The loan will be attached to your property, not to you, the property owner. This means that if you sell your home before the loan is repaid, the new owner will assume the loan balance.

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:

• You can help your clients make the decision to improve their homes by letting them know about HELP and the low-interest loans available to them.
• Homeowners can hire the contractor of their choice to complete the renovations with no paperwork for contractors to complete.

Contractor Info Kit

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.

• brochures
• 8.5 x 11 poster

To request these materials, please email homeenergyloan@toronto.ca or call 416-392-1826.

Better Built Homes Municipal Workshop Series

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:

• Advanced Building Science (pre-requisite for the NZ Builder course)
• Net Zero Builder (pre-requisite for the NZ Renovator course)
• Net Zero Renovator

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.