CMHC SCHL MLI Select PRogram

Affordability means you agree to keep a portion of units at rents that are below typical market levels or “affordable” based on CMHC definitions for your area, usually for a long commitment period. The more units you designate as affordable and the deeper the rent discount, the more points your project earns, which can unlock better loan terms like higher leverage or lower rates. This is essentially a trade-off: you give up some potential rent income in exchange for significantly cheaper and easier financing, which often improves overall cash flow.

Energy efficiency focuses on how much better your building performs compared to standard code requirements. This can be achieved through upgrades like better insulation, high-efficiency heating systems, heat pumps, windows, or sustainable design in new builds. Higher efficiency reduces operating costs (like utilities and heating), and CMHC rewards this with more points because the building is cheaper and greener to operate long-term.