• Save thousands on renovations by applying for grants.house under construction image by Jana Lumley from Fotolia.com
  
  Renovations can be time consuming and costly, but if you do your research you can stay in budget by simply applying for grants that you are entitled to. Whether you are planning renovations for environmental reasons or looking to add an addition for rental space, there are government resources at your disposal. There is assistance for any size renovation, which helps you save money for your next project.
  
  

ecoEnergy Retrofit

• This is a series of grants to help you renovate your home to be more environmentally friendly. Having an eco-friendly home is not only great for the environment, it can save you money on energy costs, and improve comfort, according to Natural Resources Canada. To be eligible for these grants you must be a homeowner of a single-family home, detached or semi-detached. You may potentially be eligible if you are the owner of a low-rise multi-unit building, as long as it is three-stories or less or the owner of a 50 per cent permanent residential mixed-use building, according to Natural Resources Canada. What you plan to renovate and replace in your home will determine the grant amount you receive. There are grants for your heating system, cooling systems, air sealing, water conservation, and insulation for ceiling, foundation, basement, basement header, crawl space, exposed floor and exterior wall, according to Natural Resources Canada.
  
  Natural Resources Canada
  
  580 Booth St., 18th Floor
  
  Ottawa ON K1A 0E4
  
  1-800-622-6232
  
  ecoaction.gc.ca/homes
  
  

Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program

• The Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program is for homeowners that are interested in renovating their home to include a secondary suite or garden suite for renting purposes. This grant is available nationwide, and funding varies depending on which area of Canada you live in. Canada is separated into three zones for the purpose of distributing grant amounts, southern, northern and far north areas. There is also a 25 percent supplement available for remote areas. To be eligible for this grant you must be the homeowner and rent out the renovated secondary suite to a low-income senior or adult with a disability. You will also have to meet the zoning and building regulations, agree to the Operating Agreement and confirm that the occupants' income of the secondary suite is below the set level.
  
  Canada Mortgage and Housing Operation
  
  Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program
  
  700 Montreal Road
  
  Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0P7
  
  1-800-668-2642
  
  cmhc.ca/
  
  

GST/HST New Housing Rebate

• While the title can be deceiving, this grant is not only for newly built houses, but also for homes that have had substantial renovations done. It is also available to individuals that have had to rebuild their primary residence due to fire. It is available nationwide, however, if you are a resident in Nova Scotia you may qualify for an additional rebate amount and if you are a resident of Quebec you will need to apply to Revenu Quebec instead, according to Service Canada. If your home is valued at over $450,000 then you will not qualify for the rebate. If your home is valued over $350,000, then the rebate will be gradually reduced as value increases. The amount you receive if your home is valued under $350,000 is usually a tax reduction from five percent to 3.5 percent, according to Service Canada.
  
  Service Canada
  
  GST/HST New Housing Rebate
  
  Canada Enquiry Centre
  
  Ottawa ON K1A 0J9
  
  1-800-622-6232
  
  servicecanada.gc.ca