Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) — Rooming House

The Rooming House RRAP offers repair assistance to owners of rooming houses who offer affordable rents to low-income individuals.

Who is eligible?

Owners (landlords)* of rooming houses intended as permanent accommodation for the occupants may apply if:

• rental rates for the bed units are at or below established levels for the market area, and
• the property must lack basic facilities, or require major repair in one or more of five categories: structural, electrical, plumbing, heating and fire safety.
• tenants are not family relatives of the owner

* This program is only available on-reserve for rooming houses not owned by the Band.

What assistance is available?

The assistance is a fully forgivable loan of up to 100 percent of the cost of mandatory repairs up to the maximum loan available. The maximum amount per bed-unit varies according to three geographic zones:

* Additional assistance may be available in areas defined as remote.

IMPORTANT: Work carried out before the loan is approved in writing is not eligible for funding under this program.

The owner must cover the cost of mandatory repairs in excess of the maximum loan available. Eligible repairs are limited to mandatory repairs required to bring rooming houses up to minimum levels of health and safety.

Other CMHC programs are available to assist eligible Canadians with repairs to substandard housing, accessibility modifications and adaptations for persons with disabilities and seniors.

Where can I get more information?

Contact your local CMHC office

In some areas of Canada (excluding on-reserve), funding for these or similar programs is provided jointly by the Government of Canada, and the provincial or territorial government. In these areas, the provincial or territorial housing agency may be responsible for delivery of the programs. Program variations may also exist in these areas.

Contact information