Quick quiz: Ontario rebates
A few questions from the programs we track. Tap an answer to see why.
Ontario's provincial rebates cover a portion of a retrofit's cost — rarely all of it. The City of Toronto's Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) is how many homeowners cover the rest: low-interest financing tied to the property itself, not your personal credit, repaid alongside your property taxes.
What makes it different from a normal loan
- Tied to the property, not you — if you sell, the remaining balance can transfer to the new owner (confirm current transfer terms with the City)
- Repaid via your property tax bill — no separate loan payment to track
- Fixed rate, up to 20-year term — longer than most unsecured renovation loans
- No credit check in the traditional sense — approval is based on your property's assessed value, not your personal credit score
What it covers
A wide list, well beyond what the provincial HRSP rebates touch:
- Air-source heat pumps
- Window and door replacement
- Insulation (basement, attic, exterior wall)
- Air sealing
- Geothermal systems
- High-efficiency water heaters, furnaces, boilers, air conditioners
- Tankless water heaters and drain-water heat recovery systems
- Toilet replacements
- Solar hot water systems and rooftop solar PV
- EV charging stations (Level 2)
- Battery storage
Rates and terms
| Term | Fixed rate |
|---|---|
| 5 years | 3.34% |
| 10 years | 4.01% |
| 15 years | 4.46% |
| 20 years | 4.86% |
These rates are valid until September 30, 2026 at time of research (updated from an earlier Dec 31, 2025 rate set — the City reviews these periodically) — confirm current rates on the official HELP page before applying.
⚠ Two things to budget for
A 2% administrative charge is added to the loan, reflecting the City's cost of running the program. The maximum loan amount is capped at 10% of your property's current value assessment (CVA), or $125,000, whichever is less — so a lower-assessed home may qualify for less than the full $125,000 headline figure.
Solar, windows, geothermal, and heat pump projects specifically qualify for the full 20-year term; some other measures may be limited to shorter terms — check with the program when you apply.
How it stacks with provincial rebates
HELP is financing, not a rebate — it doesn't reduce the total project cost the way an HRSP rebate does. The two work together like this:
- Get your HRSP rebate amount confirmed first (heat pump, solar, insulation, etc. — see our full HRSP breakdown)
- Subtract that rebate from your total project quote
- Apply to HELP to finance the remainder, if you don't want to pay it out of pocket
✅ Apply for financing before you hire a contractor
HELP funding must be approved first — you can't retroactively finance work that's already started. If you're planning a bigger retrofit and might want the loan, get it approved before signing a contract with an installer.
Minimum loan amount
The minimum you can borrow is $10,000 — if your project costs less than that after rebates, HELP likely isn't the right tool; paying out of pocket or a smaller personal loan may make more sense.
Plan your Toronto retrofit
We'll show your provincial rebate total first, so you know exactly what's left to finance.
Estimate my rebates →Source: City of Toronto — Home Energy Loan Program (HELP). Rates and terms change periodically; confirm current figures before applying.
Full Toronto rebate hub → · Ottawa's Better Homes loan, compared → · All HRSP categories explained → · 6 mistakes that void a heat pump rebate →
