Quick quiz: Ontario rebates
A few questions from the programs we track. Tap an answer to see why.
Ontario's provincial HRSP rebates cover a portion of a retrofit's cost — rarely all of it. Ottawa homeowners have their own tool for the rest: the Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program, low-interest financing tied to the property itself, not your personal credit, repaid alongside your property taxes.
What makes it different from a normal loan
- Tied to the property, not you — the loan transfers to the new owner if you sell (confirm current transfer terms with the City)
- Repaid via your property tax bill — no separate loan payment to track
- Fixed rate, single 20-year term — unlike Toronto's HELP, which offers a choice of 5, 10, 15, or 20-year terms, Ottawa runs one term length
- Delivered by EnviroCentre — an Ottawa-based non-profit administers the program on the City's behalf, not City staff directly
What it covers — and what it doesn't
Eligible measures span most of a whole-home retrofit:
- Air-source and ground-source heat pumps
- Insulation (attic, basement, exterior wall) and air sealing
- Window and door replacement
- Rooftop solar PV and battery storage
- Level 2 EV charging stations
- Rental suite upgrades, up to 30% of the loan value
⚠ Gas upgrades are excluded
The Better Homes Ottawa loan will not finance a natural gas-powered upgrade, including a like-for-like gas furnace swap. The program exists to finance a switch away from gas, not a replacement of it. The provincial Home Renovation Savings program doesn't rebate gas furnaces either.
Rate and terms
| Term | Fixed rate |
|---|---|
| 20 years | 4.33% |
Confirm the current rate on the official Better Homes Ottawa loan page before applying — municipal loan rates are reviewed periodically.
⚠ Two things to budget for
A 4% administrative charge is added to the loan, reflecting EnviroCentre's cost of administering the program — double Toronto HELP's 2% fee. The maximum loan amount is capped at 10% of your property's current value assessment (CVA), or $125,000, whichever is less — so a lower-assessed home may qualify for less than the full $125,000 headline figure.
An interest-free option exists for lower-income households
The City has set aside a separate pool of 0% interest loan capital for households at or below certain income thresholds. This runs alongside the standard 4.33% loan rather than replacing it — check current income limits and available capital with EnviroCentre before assuming you qualify.
How it stacks with provincial rebates
The Better Homes Ottawa loan is financing, not a rebate — it doesn't reduce the total project cost the way an HRSP rebate does. The two work together like this:
- Get your HRSP rebate amount confirmed first (heat pump, solar, insulation, etc. — see our full HRSP breakdown)
- Subtract that rebate from your total project quote
- Apply to the Better Homes Ottawa loan to finance the remainder, if you don't want to pay it out of pocket
✅ Apply for financing before you hire a contractor
Loan funding must be approved first — you can't retroactively finance work that's already started. If you're planning a bigger retrofit and might want the loan, get it approved through EnviroCentre before signing a contract with an installer.
Minimum loan amount
The minimum you can borrow is $10,000 — if your project costs less than that after rebates, this loan likely isn't the right tool; paying out of pocket or a smaller personal loan may make more sense.
Plan your Ottawa retrofit
We'll show your provincial rebate total first, so you know exactly what's left to finance.
Estimate my rebates →Source: Better Homes Ottawa — Loan Program and City of Ottawa program page. Rates and terms change periodically; confirm current figures before applying.
Full Ottawa rebate hub → · Toronto's HELP loan, compared → · All HRSP categories explained →
