The 2025 Rebate Report: What’s Still Available for BC Homeowners?

If you are planning a renovation or building a new home this winter, you might be feeling a bit of “rebate whiplash.” 2025 has been a year of transition: some of the most popular federal grants have closed, while new, targeted provincial credits have quietly opened up.

Whether you are looking to swap out an old furnace in Comox or build a garden suite in Victoria, here is your cheat sheet for the credits, rebates, and loans available right now.

1. The “Big One” is Gone (But There’s a Replacement)

First, the hard news: The federal Canada Greener Homes Grant (the one that gave you up to $5,000 for windows and insulation) is effectively closed to new applicants. The companion loan program also wound down its intake in October 2025.

The Good News: The province has stepped up. The CleanBC Better Homes and Energy Savings programs are still very active, but they have shifted their focus.

• Income-Qualified Program: If your household income qualifies, you can receive massive rebates (often covering 60-95% of costs) for upgrades like heat pumps, insulation, and windows. We are seeing rebates up to $14,000+ for complete system overhauls.
• Electric-to-Electric: Previously, rebates focused on switching off gas. Now, there are rebates (up to $4,000) for switching from electric baseboards/furnaces to high-efficiency heat pumps.

Urgency Alert: If you are eyeing a Dual Fuel system (electric heat pump + gas furnace backup) in FortisBC territory, you need to move fast. The current rebate for this ends December 18, 2025.

2. New Home Construction: The GST Break

If you are buying or building a brand-new home, the biggest news of late 2025 is the Federal First-Time Home Buyers’ GST Rebate.

• The Deal: For eligible first-time buyers, the federal government has effectively removed the GST on new homes valued up to $1 million.
• The “Step Code” Bonus: If you are building a high-performance home, don’t forget the FortisBC New Home Program. They are currently offering rebates up to $20,000 if you build to BC Energy Step Code 5 (Net Zero Ready).

3. The Secondary Suite Pivot

Many homeowners were disappointed when the provincial Secondary Suite Incentive Pilot closed its doors in spring 2025. However, the federal government has filled that gap.

• The “Canada Secondary Suite Loan”: This program is active and offers up to $80,000 in low-interest loans to homeowners adding a legal secondary suite.
• Refinancing: New mortgage rules introduced this year allow you to refinance up to 90% of your home’s value (capped at $2M) specifically to fund the construction of additional units (ADUs or suites).

4. Accessibility & Seniors

Two credits remain stable and under-utilized:

• BC Home Renovation Tax Credit for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities: This is a refundable tax credit worth up to $1,000 per year for improvements that help with mobility (ramps, grab bars, walk-in showers).
• Federal Home Accessibility Tax Credit (HATC): This allows you to claim up to $20,000 in eligible expenses for similar accessibility renovations, resulting in a tax reduction of up to $3,000.

5. The “Hidden” Credits (PST & Local)

Don’t forget the smaller line items that add up:

• PST Exemption: Heat pumps and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are currently exempt from the 7% PST. You don’t need to apply for this; it should be deducted automatically at the point of sale.
• Rainwater Harvesting: If you are on the Island or Sunshine Coast, check your regional district. Areas like the RDN (Nanaimo) and SCRD (Sunshine Coast) often have active rebates for installing rainwater cisterns (approx. $500–$1,000), though these pools of money usually reset in January.

Summary Table: At A Glance

For more information and help with planning your new home or new renovation project, Book A Consultation with us today.