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CMHC ECO PLUS · MORTGAGE INSURANCE REFUND
Get 25% of your mortgage insurance premium back on an energy-efficient new home.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Eco Plus refunds 25% of your CMHC mortgage loan insurance premium when you buy or build a qualifying energy-efficient new home in Ontario. No certificate from your builder? An EnerGuide rating from a Natural Resources Canada registered Energy Advisor can be your proof, and that's what we provide.
AT A GLANCE
- Refund
- 25% of the CMHC mortgage loan insurance premium
- Homes
- Newly built homes and prefabricated homes
- Energy test
- An eligible certification, or an EnerGuide rating showing at least 20% less energy than a typical new home
- Deadline
- Within 2 years of your mortgage closing date
- Processing
- About 8 to 10 weeks
HOW MUCH
What a 25% premium refund can be worth.
Mortgage insurance premiums on high-ratio mortgages run into the thousands, so a quarter back is real money.
at 95% loan-to-value
standard premium
back in your pocket
Example as published by Canada Guaranty for its equivalent program, before sales tax. Your refund depends on your own premium.
DO YOU QUALIFY?
Three conditions.
A CMHC-insured mortgage
Your lender confirms your mortgage is insured by CMHC. Insured through Sagen or Canada Guaranty instead? See their equivalent programs below.
A newly built home
A never-occupied new home or prefabricated home, bought or built with CMHC-insured financing.
Proof it's energy efficient
Either a recognized certification, or an EnerGuide rating showing the home uses at least 20% less energy than a typical new home.
THE ENERGY PROOF
No certificate from your builder? An EnerGuide rating can do it.
Many new homes perform well but never get certified. A registered Energy Advisor can evaluate the home under Natural Resources Canada's EnerGuide Rating System and show whether it uses at least 20% less energy than a typical new house.
- On-site evaluation including an air leakage (blower door) test
- Energy model of the home under the EnerGuide Rating System
- EnerGuide label and report you can submit with your refund application
HOW TO CLAIM
From closing to refund in four steps.
- STEP 1
Confirm your insurer
Ask your lender for written confirmation that the mortgage is CMHC-insured.
- STEP 2
Get your energy proof
Use your builder's certificate, or book an EnerGuide evaluation with us.
- STEP 3
Apply within 2 years
Send CMHC the signed application form, your certificate or EnerGuide rating, your lender's confirmation and a void cheque.
- STEP 4
Receive your refund
CMHC processes applications in about 8 to 10 weeks.
Apply to CMHC by email at eemrefund@cmhc-schl.gc.ca, by fax or by mail. CMHC Eco Plus program page and form.
OTHER MORTGAGE INSURERS
Insured with Sagen or Canada Guaranty? They refund 25% too.
| Insurer | Program | Refund | Apply within | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMHC | CMHC Eco Plus | 25% of premium | 2 years of closing | About 8 to 10 weeks |
| Sagen | Energy Efficient Housing Program | 25% of premium | 24 months of closing | 8 to 12 weeks |
| Canada Guaranty | Energy-Efficient Advantage | 25% of premium | 24 months of closing | 8 to 12 weeks |
All three use the same energy test for new homes: an eligible certification, or an EnerGuide rating at least 20% better than a typical new house. Sagen also requires the energy documentation to be no more than 5 years old. Checked October 2026.
RENOVATING AN EXISTING HOME?
Eco Plus covers new homes. Renovations have their own programs.
For upgrades to an existing home, look at Home Renovation Savings rebates, Toronto's HELP (Home Energy Loan Program) loan and the new federal heat pump rebate.
Rebates and loans for homeowners →Builders and developers
EnerGuide ratings on your new homes let buyers claim their 25% refund, which is a selling point. Building rentals of 5 or more units? Energy modelling also earns points under CMHC MLI Select.
BOOK AN ENERGUIDE EVALUATION
Let's get your refund documented.
Send your details and we'll call to book your evaluation. Have your closing date handy so we can make sure you apply in time.
QUESTIONS
CMHC Eco Plus questions
What is CMHC Eco Plus?
CMHC Eco Plus is a 25% partial refund of your CMHC mortgage loan insurance premium when you buy or build an energy-efficient newly built home with a CMHC-insured mortgage.
How much is the CMHC Eco Plus refund?
25% of your CMHC mortgage loan insurance premium. As an example published by Canada Guaranty for its equivalent program, a $475,000 mortgage at 95% loan-to-value carries a $19,000 premium, so a 25% refund is $4,750 before sales tax.
Does my home qualify?
The home must be newly built (never occupied) or a prefabricated home, financed with a CMHC-insured mortgage, and meet the energy test: an eligible certification such as ENERGY STAR, R-2000 or Canadian Home Builders' Association (CHBA) Net Zero, or an EnerGuide rating showing at least 20% less energy use than a typical new home.
My builder did not certify the home. Can I still qualify?
Possibly. A Natural Resources Canada registered Energy Advisor can evaluate the home under the EnerGuide Rating System. If it uses at least 20% less energy than a typical new house, the EnerGuide rating is your proof.
What is the deadline to apply?
Apply within 2 years of your mortgage closing date. CMHC processes applications in about 8 to 10 weeks.
What documents do I need?
Your lender's confirmation that the mortgage is CMHC-insured, the signed CMHC Eco Plus application form, a copy of your energy certificate or EnerGuide rating, and a void cheque in a borrower's name.
Can I get the refund for renovating my existing home?
Not under the current CMHC Eco Plus rules, which cover newly built homes. For renovations, look at Ontario's Home Renovation Savings rebates, Toronto's HELP loan and the federal heat pump rebate.
What if my mortgage is insured by Sagen or Canada Guaranty?
Both offer a 25% premium refund for qualifying energy-efficient new homes, with applications due within 24 months of closing: Sagen's Energy Efficient Housing Program and Canada Guaranty's Energy-Efficient Advantage.
Program details checked October 2026 against CMHC, Sagen and Canada Guaranty. Insurers set the rules and can change them; confirm with your insurer before you apply.