Home Owner Grants

The Provincial Home Owner Grant (HOG) program helps reduce the amount of residential property taxes British Columbians pay. The grant is available each year to Canadian citizens or permanent residents who live in British Columbia. You must apply for the grant every year if you are eligible.  There are three different types of Home Owner Grants; Regular, Seniors and Persons with disabilities.  See below for eligibility information for any one of these grants.

Claim your 2018 Home Owner Grant online:

Claim your Home Owner Grant online by clicking this link: 2018 Home Owner Grant  You will need your folio number and access code in order to proceed.  These can be found on your property tax notice as shown below:

NanPropTaxNotice

Home Owner Grant Eligibility

Basic Home Owner Grant

In order to be eligible for a Basic Home Owner Grant, a property owner must meet all of the following qualifications. An owner together with his/her spouse qualifies for a grant on only one residence in the Province in any one calendar year.

Qualification for Basic Grant
 Required Action and Documentation
You live in British Columbia
 Application must be submitted each year - no additional documentation is required
You occupy the residence as your principal residence
 Application must be submitted each year - no additional documentation is required
You are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
 Application must be submitted each year - no additional documentation is required
You are the registered owner of the residence
 Application must be submitted each year - no additional documentation is required

Additional Grant

To qualify for the additional grant you must also meet the criteria for the basic grant and one of the five categories listed:

Additional Grant Categories
 Required Action and Documentation
Person receiving disability assistance:Person with disabilities receiving assistance under the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act
 If this is your first year applying, you will need to provide either of the two forms: Note: CPP disability pension or WCB does not automatically qualify a person for this grant
Person with severe mental or physical disabilities or living with spouse or relative with disabilities:
Person incurring one of the following costs:
  • You are paying at least $150 per month for assistance with daily living activities in your principal residence
  • You have spent at least $2,000 for qualifying modifications to your principal residence
  • You purchased your principal residence with qualifying modifications made by a previous owner that have a value of at least $2,000
 If this is your first year applying, you will need to provide the following form:
Senior: 65 or over during the current year.  For the 2018 Tax Year, you would have to have been born in 1953
 Each year include your birth date on the grant application (no additional form needed)
Spouse or relative of deceased owner: Under certain circumstances you may apply on behalf of the deceased owner
  • A copy of the deceased owner’s death certificate
  • Proof of residency for the person claiming the grant, showing that they lived on the property at the time of death
Veteran:Surviving spouse of a veteran who received assistance under War Veteran Allowance Act (Canada) or Civilian War-Related Benefits Act
 Confirmation letter from Veteran Affairs Canada showing you receive a War Veterans Allowance in the first year of application

 

For more information on the Home Owner Grant program, please visit the Provincial Home Owners Grant website.

Home Owner Grant Thresholds

The Home Owner Grant phase-out threshold has increased to $1,650,000 for the 2018 tax year.

  • The additional grant is eliminated on properties assessed at $1,819,000 or more
  • The grant amount is reduced by $5 for every $1,000 your property value is over the threshold
  • The regular grant is eliminated on properties assessed at $1,764,000 or more

Retroactive Home Owner Grant

The Home Owner Grant may be available retroactively if you qualified last year and didn't apply. Please review the Home Owner Grant Eligibility Requirements (above) to ensure you apply for the correct grant.

Retroactive Home Owner Grant applications (PDF) must be submitted by December 31 of the year following the year to which the grant applies.

After Approval

After the Home Owner Grant Administration office in Victoria approves your grant application, the following will occur:

  • If your Property Tax account is paid in full on the day the Retroactive Home Owner Grant application is finalized at the City’s Property Tax Division, the City will instruct the Home Owner Grant Office in Victoria to forward the refund directly to you
  • If your Property Tax account has an outstanding balance, the Home Owner Grant Office in Victoria will forward the funds directly to the City to be applied to the Property Tax account

More Information

Visit the Province's website for more information regarding the Retroactive Home Owners Grant or contact the Home Owner Grant Administration office at 1-888-355-2700.  All applications are subject to approval from the Home Owner Grant Administration Office in Victoria.

Supplement For Veterans Under 65

If you are a Veteran under 65 and live in a low-income household you may also qualify for a supplement.

You must apply for the Home Owner Grant and the veterans supplement separately.

To apply for the veterans supplement, complete the Home Owner Grant Veterans Supplement Application (FIN 79) (PDF) and submit it to the Home Owner Grant Administration with the required documentation, by December 31 of the current year. For more information, please visit the Home Owner Grant Administration.

Last updated: November 29, 2018

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