Mixed Use Properties

What is a mixed use property?

A mixed use property is a property that is assessed as partially residential taxable along with other classes of property (i.e. "commercial taxable", "resource farm").

Properties that have a current property assessment that indicates a combination of "residential taxable" with "resource taxable", "resource forest" or "resource exempt" are considered a "residential use property" and are eligible to receive the rebate at the point of sale.

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Does a mixed use property qualify for Your Energy Rebate?

The fuel used to heat the residential portion of mixed use property is eligible for the rebate. The purchaser is required to apply for the rebate.

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Commercial Electricity Customers

If you are charged commercial service rates for your electricity, you may claim a rebate on your full residential power usage indicated on your bill.

The demand charge is also eligible for the rebate. Effective January 1, 2010, any energy efficiency program charges included on a commercial service rate customer's electricity bill may be included in the calculation of the rebate under the program.

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Residential Electricity Customer

All electricity consumed for residential purposes is eligible for the rebate. If you are being billed at the domestic service rate, the rebate will be automatically deducted from your bill. The base charge is also eligible for the rebate.

Effective January 1, 2010, energy efficiency program charges are eligible for the rebate.

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How do I know if I qualify?

You are eligible to apply as a 'mixed-use' property for Your Energy Rebate if:

• You pay for the home energy costs; and
• Your property includes other classes of property along with a portion classified as "residential taxable" based on the current property assessment issued under the Assessment Act.

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Will my rebate be automatically removed from my home portion of energy costs?

No, as an owner of a 'mixed-use' property, your rebate will not be automatically deducted from your home heating oil, firewood, or natural gas bills.

You have to apply for a rebate using the:

• Landlord and/or Mixed Residential/Commercial/Resource Farm Application Form

It may be rebated on your electricity bills. For example, if the power company is charging you the domestic service rate, you will receive the rebate automatically off your power bill.

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What if my commercial space is in a separate building?

There may be extenuating circumstances that allow a portion of the commercial property to be omitted from the calculation. Each situation will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

Possible cases

Separate commercial building that is shut down for part of the year and not heated while shut down.

In this case, if the consumer provides additional documentation verifying the situation with their application, only the residential square footage actually being heated with the fuel shall be used to calculate the portion of the bill that is eligible for the rebate.

The additional documentation to be provided by the consumer must include the following information:

• Dates of operation of the commercial activity on the property;
• The commercial property is a separate building from the building containing residential space;
• Type of energy (if any) used to heat the commercial building when in operation;
• Square footage of the commercial building; and,
• Square footage heated by the fuel the rebate is being claimed for.

If the commercial building has no heat at all and the consumer has sent supporting documentation with their application, the space for the commercial building may be excluded from the calculation of the rebate.

If the commercial building is heated by the same energy type as the building containing the residential space, the total property space and total energy bill must be used for dates when the commercial activity occurred.

Separate commercial building with a separate fuel source for heating for commercial building vs building containing residential space.

If the consumer feels it is more beneficial for them to do so, they may send in additional documentation verifying that the separate commercial building is heated by a different energy type than the building containing the residential space.

If the consumer sends in the additional documentation, the energy bill along with the square footage for the commercial property may be excluded from the rebate calculation. To calculate the rebate, the consumer is entitled to only the space usage in the building containing the residential property and the energy bill for it. To put it in plain terms: if you want to exclude the commercial space, you have to exclude the commercial energy bill as well.

The additional documentation to be provided by the consumer must include all of the following information:

• The commercial property is a separate building from the building containing the residential space;
• Type of energy used to heat the commercial building;
• Type of energy used to heat the building containing the residential space
• Square footage of the commercial building;
• Square footage of the building containing the residential space.
• Energy bill for commercial building; and,
• Energy bill for the building containing the residential space.

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What if my property is assessed as a mixed use property but the only building I heat is my residence?

A consumer with a mixed use property has to submit a mixed use application form to apply for a rebate. The mixed use application form was revised to include instructions on how to fill it out if you only buy fuel for residential use.

When your claim is processed, if your mixed use application indicates that your purchases are 100 percent for residential use, you will be sent a declaration in the mail asking you to confirm that you do not heat any non-residential space on your property. Once you return the signed declaration, your application will be processed and you will be sent a consumer application. You may then use the simpler consumer application form for future claims.

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How do I apply?

Complete the application form in full.

Include all receipts for the home energy purchases.

Please ensure that your receipts indicate the following:

• Supplier's HST number
• Amount of HST paid 
• Date of the purchase
• Nature of the product (e.g. wood, wood pellets)

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How often can I apply?

You may submit one application each quarter (April, July, October, January).

If you only purchase fuel for residential use and have submitted a declaration stating that you do not heat any non-residential space, you may apply whenever you have purchased enough fuel to receive a rebate of $30.00 or more.

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How long do I have to apply for my rebate?

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Where can I get an application form?

In Person

Access Nova Scotia

Email

yourenergyrebate@gov.ns.ca

Telephone

Halifax Region
(902) 424-5200

Toll-free in Nova Scotia
1-800-670-4357

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Downloadable Forms

• Landlord and/or Mixed Residential/Commercial/Resource Farm Application [ - 281.82 kb]