Home Ownership Program

Who is eligible for financial assistance?

First-time buyers (physical person) of a new affordable residential unit or an existing residential building with two or three dwelling units are eligible for financial assistance provided they meet program requirements.

What type of property is eligible?

The purchase in Montréal of one of the following types of properties can qualify for financial assistance:

• A new residential unit whose total purchase price, including taxes and extras, does not exceed the stipulated amount;
• An existing exclusively residential building that includes two or three above-ground dwelling units, with at least one of them being offered for rent, and whose purchase price does not exceed the stipulated amount.

What territory does the program cover?

The program is available throughout the city of Montréal.

What is the amount of financial assistance?

The amount of financial assistance varies according to the type of household and the type of property.

The financial assistance for the purchase of a new property includes a lump-sum payment and the refund of part or all of the real estate transfer tax ("welcome" tax).

¹ Including taxes and extras. The maximum eligible purchase price is increased by $2,500 for a building certified as being conform to the Novoclimat energy efficiency program or by $5,000 for a LEED-certified building.

The financial assistance for the purchase of an existing residential building consistsq of the refund of part or all of the real estate transfer tax.

The financial assistance is paid once the new owner has demonstrated that he/she occupies the dwelling unit and satisfies all other program requirements. The applicant must pay the real estate transfer tax within the allotted time; it will be refunded in part or in whole, depending on the situation. Interest due to late payment of the transfer tax is not included in the financial assistance calculation.

Households with children who take advantage of this program are eligible to receive six months of free public transit access on purchase of a one-year OPUS full-fare pass (one free pass per household). These families will also receive two free Accès Montréal cards. They will be informed of the procedure to obtain these benefits upon approval of the financial assistance.

Are there any specific program requirements?

For all property types:

• Each of the applicants must prove that he/she has not owned a residential property in Québec over the last five years. This five-year period is based on the dates when the sale of the previous property and the purchase of the new one were recorded in the Land register.
• To be considered a household with children, the household must include at least one child who is under 18 years of age on the date of purchase or who will be born or adopted within six months of that date. In addition, the child must reside with the applicant at least 40 % of the time.
• The date of purchase is the date of registration of the transaction in the Land register.
• When the financial assistance is approved on the basis of an accepted offer-to-purchase, the transaction must be completed within 18 months of signing the offer; applicants then have six months from the date of purchase to provide all documents required to receive payment of the financial assistance.
• When the application for financial assistance is made on the basis of a deed of sale, it must be submitted within six months of the date of purchase. Applicants then have six months from the approval of the financial assistance to provide all documents required for its payment.

For new properties:

• The applicant must be the first buyer of the property.
• The property must not have been occupied before it was purchased, except by the applicant and only for a maximum of 12 months before the date of purchase.
• The property must be registered under a warranty program for new homes.
• A “family housing unit” is defined as a new residential unit that includes at least five rooms, at least three of which are bedrooms, and that has a minimum floor area of 96 m² (1,033 ft²) as per the certificate of location.

For existing residential buildings:

• Only the purchase of an existing residential building that includes two or three above-ground dwelling units, with at least one of them being offered for rent, and that has no other main use is eligible for financial assistance.
• The building must have been constructed or converted into a residential building for at least ten years.
• The building must not be a divided co-ownership at the time of purchase. In addition, the owner cannot apply for such a conversion while the application for financial assistance is being processed.

What are the owner's obligations?

• The applicant purchasing a new residential unit must commit to remain the owner-occupant of the property and occupy it as his/her primary residence for at least three years from the date of purchase.This requirement must be recorded in the Land register by a notary chosen by the applicant. Notaries may charge a fee for this service. Owners who fail to comply with these obligations will be required to reimburse part or all of the financial assistance. This provision does not apply if the owner sells this residential property within three years of purchase but buys another residential property in Montréal.
• The applicant purchasing an existing residential building with two or three dwelling units must commit not to convert the building into a divided co-ownership for at least three years after the financial assistance has been granted. Owners who fail to comply with this obligation will be required to reimburse part or all of the financial assistance.

What is the procedure to apply?

Applicants who are eligible for financial assistance should fill out the form for the Home Ownership Program available:

• On the Ville de Montréal Web site at habitermontreal.qc.ca by selecting “Financial Assistance”,“Home Ownership”, then again “Home Ownership Application Form”;
• In borough offices or the reception desk of the Direction de l’habitation of Ville de Montréal, 303, rue Notre-Dame Est, 4th floor, Montréal, Québec H2Y 3Y8.

The completed form with the required documents may be sent by mail or delivered in person to one of the above locations, or sent by fax to 514 872-3883. Required documents are listed in the application form. For information, please call 514 872-4630.

Once the application has been received, a letter will be sent to the applicant explaining the approval procedure and the waiting period to be expected.

How much does it cost to apply?

There is no fee for processing financial assistance applications under this program.