Government & utility home programs for Winnipeg homeowners (2026)
Canada, Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg, and Manitoba Hydro all put money toward buying, financing, and improving a home — but the programs are scattered across dozens of websites. Here they are in one place, grouped by what they help with, each linking straight to the source.
Use this as a starting map, not the final word. Amounts, income limits, and deadlines change often, and most programs have fine print. Confirm the current details on the official page before you count on anything — every program below links straight to its source.
28 programs
First Home Savings Account (FHSA)
A registered account for first-time buyers: contributions are tax-deductible and qualifying withdrawals to buy a first home are tax-free. Contribute up to $8,000 a year, $40,000 in total. Can be combined with the Home Buyers’ Plan.
Who qualifies: Canadian residents 18+ who are first-time buyers (no owned home lived in this year or the previous four).
Home Buyers' Plan (HBP)
Withdraw up to $60,000 from your RRSP ($120,000 per couple) tax-free toward a first home. Funds must sit in the RRSP for 90 days first, and you repay over 15 years starting the second year after you withdraw.
Who qualifies: First-time buyers who are Canadian residents with a written agreement to buy or build; funds must sit in the RRSP 90+ days.
First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit
A federal tax credit on a $10,000 home buyers' amount — worth up to $1,400 back for 2026 (the lowest federal rate is now 14%). Claimed on your tax return (line 31270) the year you buy.
Who qualifies: You or your spouse bought a qualifying home and neither owned and lived in one in the year of purchase or the prior four (waived if you qualify for the Disability Tax Credit).
First-time buyers' GST rebate (new homes)
Removes the 5% GST on a newly built or substantially renovated home up to $1 million for first-time buyers, phasing down to $1.5 million — up to $50,000 off. Applies to builder agreements signed on or after March 20, 2025. Most resale homes are already GST-exempt.
Who qualifies: First-time buyers of a newly built or substantially renovated primary home; once per lifetime; builder agreement dated March 20, 2025 through 2030.
CMHC Home Start
CMHC mortgage insurance that lets qualified first-time and new-build buyers purchase with as little as 5% down and amortize over 30 years. Arranged through your lender, not applied for directly.
Who qualifies: A first-time buyer, or anyone buying a newly built home, on an owner-occupied 1–4 unit property; arranged through your lender, not applied for directly.
Home Insulation Rebate
Cash back on added attic, wall, and foundation insulation, based on the R-value and area you add. Pre-approval is required before you buy materials. For homes with an active Hydro account and existing insulation below the target R-value.
Who qualifies: Homeowners with an active Manitoba Hydro account whose existing insulation is below the target R-value; the work must be pre-approved before you start.
Windows & Doors Rebate
$100 back per ENERGY STAR triple-pane window or door replacing an existing one (up to $300 each under income-based or Indigenous offers). Apply within 90 days of installation.
Who qualifies: Owners of a primary residence installing ENERGY STAR triple-pane units that replace existing windows or doors; apply within 90 days of installation.
Air-Source Heat Pump Rebate
$2,000 for a centrally ducted cold-climate heat pump, or $1,500 for a ductless one. Combinable with Manitoba Hydro's on-bill loan. Must be installed by a registered contractor.
Who qualifies: Homeowners adding a cold-climate heat pump to an existing electric or gas system (not new construction), installed by a registered contractor.
High-Efficiency Furnace & Boiler offers
Upgrade a natural-gas furnace with no upfront cost via on-bill payments (about $9.50–$25/month for 5 years), or get up to a $5,000 rebate on a high-efficiency boiler. Verify current terms with Efficiency Manitoba.
Who qualifies: Homeowners on natural gas replacing a standard-efficiency furnace or boiler through a registered Efficiency Manitoba contractor.
Ground-Source Heat Pump (Affordable Home Energy)
Geothermal heating with no upfront cost for qualifying homeowners: a large incentive plus interest-free on-bill financing repaid over 15 years. Larger projects may need an upfront contribution.
Who qualifies: Qualifying Manitoba homeowners installing an eligible geothermal (ground-source) heat pump; larger projects may need an upfront contribution.
Manitoba Green Energy Equipment Tax Credit
A refundable Manitoba credit for green heating: 7.5% on a Manitoba-made heat pump plus 15% on the rest of a geothermal system (certified installer), and 10% on solar thermal. Now permanent.
Who qualifies: Manitoba property owners installing qualifying geothermal (via an MGEA-certified installer) or solar-thermal heating equipment.
Manitoba Hydro Home Energy Efficiency Loan (HEEL)
On-bill financing for energy upgrades — insulation, windows/doors, heat pumps, furnaces, and more — at 6.20% fixed for the first 5 years. Up to $12,500 per home, repaid right on your Hydro bill, with no down payment.
Who qualifies: Manitoba Hydro account-holding homeowners approved for credit, doing eligible energy upgrades; approval is required before work begins.
Manitoba Hydro — loans & financing hub
The full menu of Manitoba Hydro on-bill financing options in one place — handy if you're planning several upgrades at once.
Who qualifies: Manitoba Hydro residential account holders; specific terms vary by measure and are subject to credit approval.
Energy Efficiency Assistance Program (EEAP)
For income-qualified households: a free home energy assessment, free insulation, a free smart thermostat, LEDs and air-sealing, enhanced heating offers, and a higher $300/unit windows rebate — installed at no upfront cost. 2026 income limits run from $46,264 (1 person) to $122,432 (7+).
Who qualifies: Manitoba homeowners or renters in a single/semi-detached home with household income at or below the size-based limit (1 person $46,264 … 7+ $122,432); Indigenous pathways available.
Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program
Federally funded, delivered in Manitoba by Efficiency Manitoba: free direct-install retrofits (insulation, air sealing, heat pumps) for low- and median-income households. Confirm intake status before counting on it.
Who qualifies: Low- and median-income Manitoba households (owners or renters who pay the energy bill); income thresholds are set by Efficiency Manitoba.
Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program (OHPA)
Closed to new applications as of July 31, 2026. It offered up to $20,000 ($15,000 federal + $5,000 provincial) plus a one-time $250 payment to switch from oil heat to an electric heat pump — niche in Winnipeg. If you applied before the deadline, you generally have until Jan 31, 2027 to submit documents; confirm the current status with Natural Resources Canada.
Who qualifies: Manitoba homeowners who currently heat primarily with oil (500 L+ in the past year) and whose after-tax household income is at or below the regional median.
Closed to new applications — deadline was July 31, 2026MMF Home Enhancement Loan Program (HELP)
A forgivable loan for emergency repairs and renovations for Red River Métis families — up to $18,000 in southern Manitoba ($25,000 north of the 53rd parallel). Income and eligibility limits apply; demand is high.
Who qualifies: Red River Métis Citizens who are Manitoba residents, with household income up to $90,000 and liquid assets up to $300,000; not previous program recipients.
Métis & First Nation energy offers
Enhanced, often free, upgrades through Efficiency Manitoba for qualifying Red River Métis citizens and First Nation members — including heat pumps and the higher $300/unit windows rebate.
Who qualifies: Income-qualifying Manitoba households, Red River Métis Citizens, and First Nation members, per each offer’s criteria.
Safe & Healthy Home for Seniors
Funding for essential safety adaptations — grab bars, walk-in tubs, zero-threshold showers, wider doorways — up to $5,000 every 3 years ($6,500 rural), to a $15,000 lifetime maximum. For Manitobans 65+ with net household income under $60,000.
Who qualifies: Permanent Manitoba residents 65+ with combined net household income under $60,000 AND a lasting condition that limits mobility and daily activities.
Home Accessibility Tax Credit (HATC)
A credit at the 14% federal rate on up to $20,000 a year of accessibility renovations — up to $2,800 back for 2026 — for seniors (65+) or people eligible for the Disability Tax Credit.
Who qualifies: A senior (65+) or a person eligible for the Disability Tax Credit — claimable by them or a supporting spouse/relative — for renovations to their principal residence.
Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit
A refundable credit at the lowest federal rate (14% for 2026) on up to $50,000 — up to $7,000 back — for building a self-contained secondary suite so a senior or disabled relative can live with family.
Who qualifies: Building a self-contained suite for a related senior (65+) or Disability-Tax-Credit-eligible adult who will live with a qualifying relative; one claim per person, per lifetime.
Disability Tax Credit (DTC)
A federal credit (about $1,448 in 2026, more for those under 18) for a severe, prolonged impairment. Approval is also the gateway to the HATC, MHRTC, and other supports — and can be claimed up to 10 years back.
Who qualifies: People with a severe, prolonged impairment certified by a medical practitioner on Form T2201; unused amounts can transfer to a supporting relative.
Primary Caregiver Tax Credit
A refundable, flat Manitoba credit of $1,400 a year for an unpaid caregiver helping someone stay at home rather than move to facility care.
Who qualifies: A Manitoba resident giving unpaid care for 90+ days to someone living at home assessed at Home Care Level 2, 3 or 4; the caregiver may be family, a neighbour or a friend.
Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit
Manitoba school-tax relief on your principal residence — the lesser of $1,600 or your 2026 school taxes (rising to $1,700 in 2027). Usually applied automatically on your property tax statement; it replaced the old Education Property Tax Credit.
Who qualifies: Manitoba homeowners on their principal residence only (not rentals or cottages); one residence per household. From 2027 it phases out above $1M assessed value.
Free lead water testing
The City tests your tap water for lead at no cost (especially worthwhile for homes built before the mid-1950s) and treats the water supply to reduce lead. Results are published online.
Who qualifies: Any Winnipeg resident — especially in homes built before the mid-1950s that may have lead service pipes.
Lead service-line replacement
The City replaces its public-side portion of a lead pipe for free during water-main work; you pay for the private side, but doing both at once saves on excavation. No homeowner rebate is offered.
Who qualifies: Winnipeg property owners with lead service lines, particularly where the City is renewing water mains nearby.
ReLeaf discounted trees
Trees Winnipeg sells low-cost trees for your own property each spring and fall — a cheap way to add shade and value. (Not for City boulevards.)
Who qualifies: Winnipeg homeowners planting on their own private property (these trees aren’t suitable for City boulevards).
Adjustment of Sewer Charges
A credit on sewer charges for metered water that never enters the sewer (over 1,000 kL a year). Mostly relevant to high-volume users, rarely typical households.
Who qualifies: Winnipeg water/sewer account holders who can show over 1,000 kL a year of water doesn’t enter the sewer — rarely typical households.
No longer available
These come up a lot but have closed — listed here so you don't waste time chasing them. Files already approved under a closed program are unaffected.
- Canada Greener Homes Loan — Stopped taking applications in October 2025; funding is fully committed. For financing, use Manitoba Hydro's on-bill loan instead.
- CMHC First-Time Home Buyer Incentive — The shared-equity down-payment program was discontinued in 2024 — no new applications.
- Manitoba Emergency Repair / Housing repair programs — Manitoba Housing currently has no repair or renovation assistance. Seniors, Métis citizens, and income-qualified households should look at the programs above instead.
- Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy — The City’s backwater-valve / sump-pit rebate has not been funded since 2017 — installations are now at the homeowner’s cost.
- Residential Toilet Replacement Credit — The City’s low-flush-toilet rebate ended after 2019.
Program details, amounts, eligibility, and deadlines change often and may have changed since this page was published. This is general information, not financial, tax, or legal advice — always confirm the current terms with the program provider before applying. Pavel Streltsov is a real estate agent and does not administer these programs.
Planning a purchase?
If you’re buying, the first-time buyer programs stack together. The down-payment guide walks through how the FHSA and Home Buyers’ Plan work in practice.
Frequently asked questions
Can I combine these programs?
Often, yes. The FHSA, Home Buyers’ Plan, and First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit can all be used for the same purchase, and Manitoba Hydro’s loan can be paired with Efficiency Manitoba rebates. Each program has its own rules, so confirm the details before you rely on stacking them.
Are these grants automatic?
A few are — the Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit usually appears on your property tax statement, and tax credits are claimed on your return. Most rebates and loans need an application (often before the work starts) and a registered contractor. Check each program’s page for the steps.
Do I qualify if I’m a newcomer or permanent resident?
Most federal and provincial programs are open to Canadian residents, including permanent residents, who meet the program’s criteria — they’re not limited to citizens. First-time-buyer programs hinge on not having owned a home recently, not on how long you’ve been in Canada. Always verify on the official page.
Which programs are still open in 2026?
Everything listed above the “No longer available” section was open as of 2026, though some have deadlines (the Oil to Heat Pump program closed to new Manitoba applications on July 31, 2026). Programs change throughout the year, so confirm before applying.
Why is the Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit missing from my property tax bill?
The up-to-$1,600 school-tax credit is applied automatically only when the property is registered with the City as your principal residence. If you bought recently, the previous owner's status may not have carried over — check your property tax statement, and if the credit is missing, contact the City of Winnipeg (311) to declare your principal residence, or claim it on your Manitoba income tax return instead.
Not sure which ones apply to you?
Tell Pavel what you're planning — buying, selling, or renovating — and he'll point you to the programs worth your time.