Bank regulator changes rules for mortgage deferrals starting now

Canada's federal banking regulator is phasing out requirements around mortgage deferrals for homeowners hard-hit financially by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions says deferrals granted starting Monday and until the end of September will be able to get special capital treatments for loan and premium payments for up to three months, rather than six.

For banks, the rules mean they won't be subject to higher capital requirements because the deferred mortgages won't be considered past-due.

The majority of the mortgage deferrals banks faced were approved in March and April as the pandemic took an economic toll on the country with non-essential businesses shuttered and millions out of work or watching their incomes crash.

As of July 30, there were roughly $170 billion in outstanding residential mortgage deferrals for largest six banks, with the majority set to mature over the next two months.

Come October, the special rules implemented as a result of the pandemic will be removed.