CMHC Eco Improvement premium refund

Active

25% back on your CMHC mortgage insurance premium after $20,000 of energy renovations

Run by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation · verified against the official page 2026-10-02

A 1950s brick bungalow on a snowy suburban street at dusk, lamplight in the front window

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 low-rise condo units, with a CMHC-insured mortgage who spend at least $20,000 after purchase on eligible insulation, windows, doors, air sealing, roof or attic, foundation, heating, ventilation, cooling, heat pump, or solar, wind or geothermal work. 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.
Ported mortgages only earn the refund on the increase in the loan.

Worth knowing

Often missed by recent buyers: the 24-month clock starts at your mortgage closing, not when the work is done. Mortgages insured by Sagen or Canada Guaranty don't qualify — their energy-efficiency refunds only cover newly built homes.

Common questions

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 24 months of your mortgage closing date.

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.

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