If you dislike the annual ritual of lining up at Courtenay City Hall to claim the home owner grant, the city has good news. Starting this year, property owners claiming the home owner grant will have a convenient online option.

The Electronic Home Owner Grant at www.courtenay.ca/eHOG will be launched as soon as 2015 property tax notices have been mailed out, and will be available until July 2, 2015. To claim the Home Owner Grant online, homeowners will need their property tax notice. These will be mailed the week of May 25.

The tax notice includes the property’s folio number, as well as a pin number that is required for online access.

Tillie Manthey, the city’s director of financial services, said the new online option will save homeowners the time and inconvenience of delivering their home owner grant application to city hall. “Claiming the grant online is going to be a fast and simple option for many people,” advised Manthey. “We’re really pleased that we can offer this new choice to residents this year.”

The traditional home owner grant claim methods will still be available. These include dropping the application off at Courtenay City Hall during business hours, through the mail, by fax to 250-334-4241, or dropped in the after-hours mail slot located in the main front doors at City Hall.

In some instances, the electronic option may not be available. This could apply to properties that changed owners after the property tax levy was generated in early May. Some properties have multiple owners, and only one owner may claim the grant. For persons with a disability who are claiming an additional grant for the first time, or who need to provide a copy of the provincial “Level 2” certificate annually, the electronic option will not be available.

For more information or assistance with the home owner grant, contact the City of Courtenay financial services department at 250-334-4441 or email finance@courtenay.ca