CMHC Eco Improvement premium refund

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A 25% energy-efficiency rebate on your CMHC mortgage insurance premium after $20,000 of energy renovations

Run by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation · verified against the official page 2026-10-08

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What it pays

25%Refund of your CMHC mortgage insurance premium
$20,000Minimum eligible work after purchase
24 monthsTime to apply, counted from your mortgage closing

The audit question

No audit required

No EnerGuide evaluation is required — the test is money spent on eligible work. Include an EnerGuide report or label if you have one.

Who qualifies

Buyers of existing homes, including eligible condominium units and prefabricated homes, with a CMHC-insured mortgage who complete at least $20,000 of eligible energy-efficient work after purchase: insulation, windows, doors, roofing or air sealing; heating, ventilation, air conditioning or heat pumps; or solar, wind or geothermal. Covers owner-occupied loans (1–4 units) and small rental loans (2–4 units).

How to apply, step by step

Close on your home with a CMHC-insured mortgage — your lender or broker can confirm which insurer you have.
Complete at least $20,000 of eligible energy renovations after you buy.
Fill in CMHC's Eco Improvement form. Every borrower signs it, and it needs your CMHC loan number.
Send it with all paid invoices and a void cheque (plus any EnerGuide report or label) by email, fax or mail within 24 months of closing.
CMHC says processing currently takes about 8–10 weeks. The refund arrives by direct deposit.

The gotchas

The deadline is 24 months from your mortgage closing, not from the end of the renovation.
Only CMHC-insured mortgages qualify. Sagen and Canada Guaranty refunds cover new builds only, with no renovation equivalent.
Keep every paid invoice — the $20,000 test is proven with receipts.

Worth knowing

Often missed by recent buyers: the 2-year clock starts at your mortgage closing, not when the work is done, and the improvements themselves can be done up to 2 years after closing. Mortgages insured by Sagen or Canada Guaranty don't qualify: their 25% energy-efficiency refunds only cover newly built homes.

Common questions

Is CMHC Eco Improvement an energy-efficiency rebate?

In effect, yes: CMHC calls it a partial premium refund. If you bought with a CMHC-insured mortgage and complete at least $20,000 of qualifying energy-efficient renovations, CMHC refunds 25% of your mortgage insurance premium by direct deposit. Verified October 8, 2026.

Do I need an EnerGuide evaluation for CMHC Eco Improvement?

No. The test is $20,000 of eligible work after purchase; submit an EnerGuide report or label if you have one.

What's the deadline for CMHC Eco Improvement?

Apply within 2 years of your mortgage closing date; the improvements can be completed up to 2 years after closing. CMHC says processing currently takes about 8 to 10 weeks.

How much will I get back?

25% of the CMHC mortgage insurance premium you paid, by direct deposit.

My mortgage is insured by Sagen or Canada Guaranty — is there an equivalent?

Not for renovations. Both insurers' energy-efficiency refunds apply to newly built homes only.

Do condos qualify?

Yes. CMHC says eligible condominium units and prefabricated homes are included, as long as the mortgage is CMHC-insured and the $20,000 of qualifying work is done after purchase.

Official program page ↗ Always confirm details there before spending — programs change faster than any tracker.