AmeriSpec Realtor's Guide: Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP)

Protecting Your Deals When Financing Is Attached to the Property

Calgary's Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) is one of the most misunderstood items showing up on real estate transactions right now. When a home has CEIP financing attached, there is a registered special lien on title — and if you or your client are not prepared for it, it can stall or derail a deal at the worst possible moment.

This guide gives you everything you need to handle CEIP confidently — whether you are listing a home that has it, writing an offer on one, or advising a buyer who wants to use the program after possession.

Review the localized market insights and talking points below.......

🏡 What Is CEIP and Why Does It Show Up on Titles?

CEIP allows eligible homeowners and property owners in participating municipalities to finance the eligible green upgrades — solar panels, heat pumps, insulation, windows, and more — at low interest rates, repaid directly through their municipal property tax bill over up to 20 years — Calgary, Airdrie, Okotoks, Banff and Canmore offer CEIP Progarm

Because the repayment is registered as a special lien on the property (not on the person), it stays with the home when it sells. That means your buyer inherits the payments — unless it is paid out before closing.

Eligible upgrades include: solar panels, heat pumps, air sealing, insulation, windows and doors, hot water heaters, and EV chargers.

Who is eligible for CEIP:

  • CEIP Municipalities only — Calgary, Airdrie, Okotoks, Banff, and Canmore. Properties in surrounding communities outside these five municipalities do not qualify

  • Owner-occupied residential properties

  • Rental properties

  • Low-rise condos

  • Duplex, Triplex, and Fourplex properties

What Realtors Need to Know: Before You List or Write an Offer

For Your Sellers — Before You List

An active CEIP charge is a legitimate selling feature — it proves green upgrades were professionally installed. But it is also a registered legal obligation that must be handled correctly before your listing goes live.

Mandatory Disclosure Sellers are legally required to disclose the Clean Energy Improvement Agreement to all prospective buyers. Make sure this is in your listing documentation from day one. Surprises at condition removal kill deals.

Know the Balance Pull a tax certificate early so you know the exact annual repayment amount and the total remaining balance. This number will come up in every offer negotiation — you want to be the one who already has it.

Two Options at Closing

  • Transfer to the buyer: Both parties complete and sign the Assignment, Novation, and Release Form (Schedule E) and submit it to the City of Calgary. The buyer assumes the remaining payments through their regular property tax bill.

  • Pay out in full: The seller pays off the remaining balance at any time with no penalty. This removes the lien from title entirely and simplifies the transaction.

Talking Point — For Your Sellers:

Example: "The CEIP charge on this property means the previous owner invested in major energy upgrades that are already paid for — and your buyer is inheriting a lower-energy home. We can position this as a value-add rather than a liability, as long as we disclose it properly and know the numbers going in."

What Realtors Need to Know: Before Condition Removal

For Your Buyers — Before You Close

If your buyer is purchasing a home with an active CEIP charge, these are the steps to work through before conditions come off.

Step 1 — Verify the Charge Request a tax certificate from the City of Calgary. Confirm the exact "Clean Energy Improvement Charge" line item, the annual repayment amount, and the total remaining balance. Do not rely on the seller's verbal estimate.

Step 2 — Get the Original Agreement The buyer must receive a copy of the original Clean Energy Improvement Agreement as an appendix to the Contract of Sale. This document confirms exactly what upgrades were done, when, and by whom.

Step 3 — Negotiate the Balance Your buyer has two choices — assume the payments or ask the seller to pay it out. This should be reflected in your offer price. A $20,000 remaining CEIP balance means your buyer is taking on a $20,000 obligation. Price it accordingly.

Step 4 — Check for Lien Impacts Because the CEIP charge is a special lien on title, it can affect your buyer's ability to access future home equity products like a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) or a second mortgage. Flag this for buyers who may need to borrow against the home in the future.

Step 5 — Confirm TIPP Integration If your buyer assumes the CEIP payments, they do not need to set up anything new. The charge automatically rolls into their existing Tax Instalment Payment Plan (TIPP) or mortgage provider tax payments. No extra accounts, no separate bills.

Talking Point — For Your Sellers:

Example: "This home has a CEIP charge on it — think of it like a low-interest loan for solar panels and insulation that is attached to the property tax bill. We need to verify the exact balance, decide whether you want to assume it or have the seller pay it out, and make sure that decision is reflected in the offer price."

Quick-Reference Talking Points for Open Houses and Showings

If a buyer asks: "What is this CEIP charge on the property taxes?" "It is a government-backed green financing program. The previous owner used it to fund energy upgrades — things like solar panels or insulation — and the repayments are built into the property tax bill. We need to decide whether you assume those payments or ask the seller to pay it off before closing."

If a seller asks: "Do I have to pay off my CEIP before I sell?" "No — you have the option to transfer it to the buyer with the right paperwork, or pay it out with no penalty. We will figure out which option makes more sense once we see what offers come in."

If a buyer asks: "Can I use CEIP myself after I buy this house?" "Yes, if the CEIP intake is open, apply for pre-qualification. And. an energy audit has to happen before any work starts. Our home inspector is also an Energy Auditing company, they can book that right after possession."

What to Pull From the City of Calgary Before Condition Removal

Direct your clients to the City of Calgary CEIP portal and request these three items before conditions are removed:

  • Tax Certificate — confirms the exact annual "Clean Energy Improvement Charge" and total remaining balance

  • Original Clean Energy Improvement Agreement — lists every upgrade completed, the contractor, and the original financing amount

  • Tax Arrears Status — confirm the seller's property taxes are fully paid up. Unpaid CEIP charges accrue penalties exactly like regular property taxes and can trigger municipal tax recovery proceedings if left unpaid for multiple years

How AmeriSpec Fits Into a CEIP Transaction

Whether your client is a seller who used CEIP or a buyer who wants to use it after possession, AmeriSpec's role is the same: we provide the EnerGuide Home Energy Assessment that the program requires.

For sellers: If the CEIP upgrades included an energy audit, we can provide documentation support and help the listing tell the energy efficiency story clearly.

For buyers post-possession: If your buyer wants to apply for CEIP after they take ownership, the City of Calgary requires a pre-upgrade EnerGuide Home Energy Assessment before any work begins. This cannot be skipped or done after the fact.

⚠️ Critical Timing Rule: The EnerGuide audit must happen before any eligible work is started. A buyer who installs a heat pump first and books the audit second will be disqualified from CEIP financing entirely. Book the audit first.

The AmeriSpec Advantage: We can bundle the EnerGuide Home Energy Assessment directly with a standard home inspection — one visit, one booking, one report. This is especially valuable for buyers who want to move quickly after possession.

📞 Call or text us at 403-257-4820 to discuss bundling options for your client's timeline.

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