Nova Scotians have many blessings: Peggy’s Cove, Celtic music, and big men wearing small kilts.

But did you know that there are many Nova Scotia grants for homeowners?

It’s true! Homeowners in Nova Scotia can take advantage of 33 government rebates and grants.

Let’s take a look…

Housing Nova Scotia Grants

• Emergency Repair Program

The Emergency Repair Program helps low-income homeowners in rural areas pay for emergency repairs so they can continue to safely live in their homes. You can receive a grant of up to $7,000 for such eligible repairs as these:

• Heating systems
• Chimneys
• Doors and Windows
• Foundations
• Roofs, walls, floors, and ceilings
• Vents, louvres
• Plumbing
• Electrical Systems

Contact Housing Nova Scotia at 1-844-424-5110 for more information.

• Provincial Housing Emergency Repair Program

This additional program administered by Housing Nova Scotia helps homeowners make emergency repairs to their homes. Eligible homeowners can receive a forgivable loan up to $6,500 to help cover the costs of materials and labour.

Contact Housing Nova Scotia at 1-844-424-5110 for more information.

• Home Ownership Preservation

Does your home require major repairs? If you qualify for this program and agree to stay in your home for 10 years, you can get funding to repair any of the following structural areas of your home:

• Structural
• Framework
• Plumbing
• Electrical System
• Fire Safety
• Heating System

The amount of funding you can get is dependent on a variety of factors, so call Housing Nova Scotia at 1-844-424-5110 to apply and get more information

• The Senior Citizens Assistance Program

If you are a Nova Scotian senior and would like to stay in your home but can’t afford the necessary repairs to roofing, plumbing, or heating, Housing Nova Scotia is ready to give you a grant of up to $6,500 to cover these costs.

• Home Adaptations for Seniors’ Independence

As we age, sometimes we need to make modifications to our homes to make it easier to retain our independence.

Housing Nova Scotia wants to help you achieve that, so they will give grants of up to $3,500 to eligible seniors to help make the necessary modifications so long as you agree to remain in your home for at least another 6 months after the project is completed.

• Family Modest Housing Program

To help low- to modest-income families achieve their dream of homeownership, Housing Nova Scotia will provide eligible families with a mortgage of up to $70,000. Call 1-844-424-5110 for more information.

• Small Loans Assistance Program

For those who already own their own home and want or need to make improvements to it, Housing Nova Scotia will supply eligible homeowners with a small loan of up to $20,000 to help fund the improvements.

• Access-A-Home Program

Should you need to make your current home accessible for you or someone in your household in a wheelchair, this program will provide eligible homeowners with a grant of up to $7,000.

Federal & Provincial Grants and Rebates for Nova Scotia Homeowners

• GST/HST New Housing Rebate (1.5% of GST/HST)

Don’t let the name of this one fool you—this is not just for new-home builders. The New Housing Rebate is meant to defray part of the GST/HST paid when you purchase a new house OR a substantially renovated house.

This program would also apply to you if you purchased shares in a co-operative housing (co-op) complex. Mobile homes (including modular homes) and floating homes also qualify.

Assuming you’re doing $100,000 worth of renovations to your home, you would get back $1,500 through this rebate.

• RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan

This additional program administered by Housing Nova Scotia helps homeowners make emergency repairs to their homes. Eligible homeowners can receive a forgivable loan up to $6,500 to help cover the costs of materials and labour.

Contact Housing Nova Scotia at 1-844-424-5110 for more information.

• Home Buyers’ Tax Credit

The THBTC is a non-refundable tax credit that helps homeowners recover closing costs such as legal expenses and inspections. First-time buyers can claim up to $5,000 for the purchase of a qualifying home on their personal tax return on the year of purchase. However, you cannot have lived in another home you or your partner owned in the previous 4 years.

If you have a disability (i.e., you are eligible for the disability tax credit) or if you bought the house to improve accessibility for someone who is disabled, you do not have to be a first-time home buyer.

• Your Energy Rebate

Designed to help with the rising cost of home energy, this Service Nova Scotia rebate is automatically applied to your power bill for most people (those homes fueled by home-delivered oil, propane, firewood, and natural gas).

Those with homes powered by other energy sources, such as kerosene, coal, and wood pellets need to apply. The rebate you receive is equal to the provincial portion of the HST on your bill.

• First-Time Home Buyers Rebate

The province will provide a rebate of 18.75% of the provincial portion of the HST for qualifying first-time home buyers (you haven’t owned and occupied a home in Canada in the last 5 years) who purchase a newly constructed home.

They will also provide a rebate of 1.31% of the purchase price of capital stock in a housing cooperative, up to $3,000, on newly built homes.

• Home Warming Low Income Program

Clean Foundation and Efficiency Nova Scotia are working together to make the homes of low-income homeowners warm and comfortable. Eligible homeowners can have a free energy assessment done, and depending on the results, they will provide all the necessary upgrades at no cost to you.

This program is funded by the provincial government and Nova Scotia Power. Call 1-877-434-2136 or go online for more information or to apply.

Municipal Grants & Rebates for Nova Scotia Homeowners

• Continuing Care – Supportive Care Program

Though this program is funded by the province, it is run by local municipalities. If you’re a Nova Scotia resident with a qualifying cognitive impairment, you could qualify for up to $500/month to purchase home-support services (personal care, respite, meal preparation, and household chores) and up to $495/year for snow removal services.

• Heritage Incentives Program

This additional program administered by Housing Nova Scotia helps homeowners make emergency repairs to their homes. Eligible homeowners can receive a forgivable loan up to $6,500 to help cover the costs of materials and labour.

Contact Housing Nova Scotia at 1-844-424-5110 for more information.

• checkconservation advice grants (50% of the costs to a maximum of$3,000)
• checkconservation work grants (up to 50% of the eligible costs to a maximum of $10,000 every 2 years)
• checktax rebates (a full rebate on the provincial tax for materials used on the outside of the building)

While this program is available in many Nova Scotia municipalities, each one has slightly different eligibility requirements and grant amounts available. Check your municipality’s website for the specifics in your area.

• Halifax Senior Snow Removal

Low-income seniors (over 65) and people with a disability who live in a single dwelling home (as opposed to an apartment or condo) can access this snow removal program that will clear the snow from your walks, steps, and ramps. Simply contact the City of Halifax for more information.

Nova Scotia Power Rebates

• Nova Scotia Power Enhanced Net Metering

This program encourages Nova Scotians to install a source of renewable energy such as a wind turbine or set of solar panels – or even a small hydro or biomass generator – to help power their home or business.

If you produce more energy than you’ve used, you’ll receive a credit on your next bill. If at the end of a year you’ve still produced more electricity than you’ve used, they’ll provide a cash payment for the surplus energy that has not already been applied to your power bill.

• Nova Scotia Power Line Rebate

If you’re a homeowner who’s had to make a payment to build an extension to receive electrical service, you could be eligible for a rebate for a part of the installation cost.

Efficiency Nova Scotia Rebates

• Efficiency Nova Scotia Instant and Service Rebates

Thanks to this new, innovative program to make Nova Scotia more energy efficient and easier on the environment, you stand to get a lot of money back when you work to make your home greener.

This particular program is composed of two parts: instant rebates and service rebates.

• checkInstant rebates: get $75 back when you switch out either your old clothes washer or refrigerator with a new, energy efficient, qualifying one.
• checkService rebates: there are 20 service rebates you could take advantage of after having a Home Energy Assessment done:

• Basement header insulation ($100)
• Basement slab insulation ($100)
• Ceiling insulation (get the rebate through the Home Energy Assessment program or the Green Heat program)
• Basement header insulation ($100)
• Centrally ducted heat pumps (get the rebate through the Home Energy Assessment program or the Green Heat program)
• Basement header insulation ($100)
• Draft proofing (get the rebate through the Home Energy Assessment program or the Green Heat program)
• Basement header insulation ($100)
• Drain water heat recovery ($100)
• Ductless mini-split heat pump (get the rebate through the Home Energy Assessment program or the Green Heat program)
• Basement header insulation ($100)
• Exposed floor insulation ($100)
• Exterior wall insulation (up to $1,800)
• Foundation insulation (up to $1,250)
• Ground source heat pumps (get the rebate through the Home Energy Assessment program or the Green Heat program)
• Basement header insulation ($100)
• Heat recovery ventilation ($100)
• Pellet furnaces and boilers (get the rebate through the Home Energy Assessment program or the Green Heat program)
• Basement header insulation ($100)
• Pellet stove (get the rebate through the Home Energy Assessment program or the Green Heat program)
• Basement header insulation ($100)
• Solar air heating equipment (get the rebate through the Home Energy Assessment program or the Green Heat program)
• Basement header insulation ($100)

• Efficiency Nova Scotia Home Energy Assessment

Homeowners can use this program to receive their service rebates by booking a Home Energy Assessment. Going this route not only gives you access to more information on how best to make your home energy efficient but it also opens up ways to save more money. You could potentially get up to $5,000 in rebates this way!

• Efficiency Nova Scotia New Home Construction

If you’re building a new home in Nova Scotia, why not make it energy efficient from the ground floor?

Taking advantage of this program gets you access to a certified Energy Advisor who will look at your plans and show you where your efficiency can be improved (and give you an Energy Rating to share).

Plus, you could be eligible for up to $5,000 in rebates!

• Efficiency Nova Scotia Appliance Retirement

If you’re one of those people who would love to buy new appliances but don’t quite know what to do with your old appliances, consider taking advantage of this program. They will pick up your old, working fridge or freezer for free, properly recycle it, make sure the CFCs are removed, and then give you $30. Add an air conditioner and get an extra $10 or add a mini fridge or mini freezer and get an extra $10.

• Efficiency Nova Scotia Mercury Collection

Bring your mercury-containing products to the drop-off location nearest you and they’ll recycle them for you, free of charge.

There you have it! For those lucky enough to live in Nova Scotia, there are many, many programs to take advantage of to save money and be nicer to the Earth.