You may not be able to afford this palace, but grants will improve your home anyway.
Housing grants help communities and homeowners build, repair, renovate and preserve existing or new houses. In Ontario, the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program, the GST/HST New Housing Rebate, and the Home Energy Audit Program, all help residents of Ontario get into new homes or improve the homes they already have.
Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program
The Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program was created by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. to encourage homeowners to build extra living areas to rent to elderly and disabled people. The program offers a loan of $24,000. The loan does not have to be paid back, as long as the extra rooms are being rented to these people. After 15 years, the homeowner can rent to whomever she chooses.
GST/HST New Housing Rebate
The GST/HST New Housing Rebate returns 1.5 percent of the goods and services tax or the harmonized sales tax, which is a tax that combines the goods and services tax with the provincial services tax. Despite the name, this rebate is not only for first-time home buyers or new homes. Rather, anyone renovating his or her home may apply.
Home Energy Audit Program
The Home Energy Audit Program is offered via a professional energy assessment. These audits usually cost about $300, so the rebate check will be for about $150. To apply, a licensed home-energy adviser must conduct an energy audit on your house and then that adviser will contact the provincial Home Energy Audit Program.
Tags: Audit Program, Energy Audit, Energy Audit Program, Home Energy, Home Energy Audit, Assistance Program, Housing Rebate
