Housing support

The Canada-Nova Scotia Targeted Housing Benefit (CNSTHB) can give you financial help if you pay more than half of your income on rent or mortgage. If you are a renter or homeowner in Nova Scotia, you can apply for this benefit, which is based on the average rent in your area and your income before taxes.

If you live in a rural area (outside of the city), you are living on a low income, and you need to make emergency repairs to your home that you own, this program can help you.

Apply for a rebate of up to $3,000 when you buy a newly built home. The home needs to be your primary residence (the main place you live) and the first house you have bought in Canada in the last 5 years.

People and families who live on a low income can apply for the Home Energy Assistance Top-up (HEAT Fund) to help pay their home heating cost bill. This fund can offer up to $400 of help per family.

HomeWarming offers no-charge energy assessments and free home upgrades to eligible Nova Scotians. Upgrades can include draft-proofing, insulation or other efficiency options to help make heating and cooling your home much more affordable and comfortable. The upgrades will be installed for you at no cost.

If you bought energy for for your residential property and the HST paid was not deducted from your bill, you can apply for a rebate equal to the provincial portion of the HST paid over a total of $30.

If you are a senior living on low-income, this program can help you with 50 percent or up to $ 800 on last year’s property taxes.

The Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit is a new refundable tax credit for the costs of certain renovation expenses to an eligible dwelling to establish a secondary unit. The secondary unit must allow a senior or an adult who is eligible for the disability tax credit to live with a qualifying relative. This amount may be claimed on your tax return (starting from the 2023 tax return).