A programme for the home you own and occupy
Nunavut Housing Corporation’s Home Renovation Program helps owner-occupiers undertake major repairs and renovation. It is part of the territory’s support for maintaining existing privately owned homes. The current guide describes both a forgivable-loan route and a rebate route. The official programme overview links to the application and current guide.
Begin with the condition of the home and the work needed to keep it suitable, safe and serviceable. Separate that need from a list of optional upgrades. The programme’s repair priorities and the owner’s design preferences may overlap, but they are not automatically identical. NHC’s review and the agreed scope determine what the project can cover.
Source: Homeownership programme overview; Home Renovation Program guide
The current loan is income-scaled
The guide describes a one-time forgivable loan up to $100,000 over ten years. Its income table lists $100,000 assistance up to $125,000 income, $80,000 above $125,000 through $150,000, $60,000 above $150,000 through $175,000, and $40,000 above $175,000 through AIRH. Above AIRH, the listed option is rebate only. AIRH is updated annually. Read the current guide and table.
What this means for you: ask NHC to confirm the household’s income calculation and the current AIRH value before using an amount in a budget. Do not apply an older $65,000 headline to this current edition, and do not treat the highest table amount as the automatic award for every property or scope.
Source: Homeownership programme overview; Home Renovation Program guide
The rebate is not an extra $20,000 on top
The separate route reimburses 50% of eligible completed repair or renovation costs, up to a $20,000 lifetime maximum. Multiple rebate applications can reach that ceiling. Rebate funds received reduce any later forgivable loan under HRP. The guide distinguishes this completed-cost route from the one-time loan. Rebate documents must reach NHC within 60 days of completing the work; the guide excludes pre-acceptance repairs from the loan route but permits the rebate route under its rules.
What this means for you: compare the routes before arranging the financing. A rebate requires a plan for advancing the eligible cost, while a conditional loan has an agreement and a forgiveness period. Keep earlier programme assistance in the discussion so that the comparison does not count the same available support twice.
Source: Homeownership programme overview; Home Renovation Program guide
Prepare the ownership and residence evidence
The guide requires age at least 19, at least two years of Nunavut residence, title or leasehold title and use as the principal residence. The home must be at least five years old, within municipal boundaries and connected to the QEC grid. It addresses arrears and a possible written repayment arrangement at NHC’s discretion.
Prepare a clear record of who owns the home, who lives there, how long the household has lived in Nunavut and what earlier assistance or arrears may affect the file. Ask how any unusual tenure arrangement is treated. An informal assurance that the property “should qualify” is not a replacement for the required evidence.
Source: Homeownership programme overview; Home Renovation Program guide
Use NHC’s technical process to define the work
The guide describes technical and programme assistance before and during construction, with priority for health, safety and suitability issues. Materials, freight and labour can be part of the loan-funded scope. Identify the repair problem and give the team access to assess it before finalizing a contractor proposal.
A practical work list distinguishes immediate repair, enabling work and optional finishes. For each item, ask who orders materials, who arranges delivery and who confirms completion. Freight and scheduling can affect the actual project as much as a product selection. Avoid assuming a quoted renovation package matches the approved work until the two documents have been compared.
Source: Homeownership programme overview; Home Renovation Program guide
Choose on cash flow and responsibilities
This programme is useful when a major repair matches the programme’s purpose and the owner understands the chosen route. The full agreement matters: a loan forgiven over time is different from a reimbursement after costs have been paid. The guide states that no forgiveness is earned in the first five years; 20% is forgiven on each anniversary in the last five years. It requires continued principal residence and good standing, and says the outstanding balance becomes due if the home stops being the participant’s principal residence. Read the actual agreement before planning a move or sale.
Keep the current guide edition, application, approved scope, agreement and invoices together. Our quote comparison guide can help separate scope and exclusions. Use the catalogue for other assistance, but ask about coordination before stacking offers. Do not infer that the separate Emergency Repair Program follows HRP’s financing or timing rules.
Source: Homeownership programme overview; Home Renovation Program guide
Sources and source-check dates
- Homeownership programme overview — Nunavut Housing Corporation. Checked .
- Home Renovation Program guide — Nunavut Housing Corporation. Checked .