Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) — Secondary/Garden Suite

The Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program — Secondary/Garden suite is to assist in the creation of affordable housing for low-income seniors and adults with a disability by providing financial assistance to convert/develop existing residential properties that can reasonably accommodate a secondary self-contained unit.

Eligibility

Eligible clients are homeowners, private entrepreneurs, and First Nations owning residential properties that could create a bona fide affordable self-contained rental accommodation. Eligibility is limited to existing family housing residential properties where self-contained secondary or garden suite is being created. The property must meet the requirements of the authority having jurisdiction including zoning and building requirements. Selected clients must enter into an Operating Agreement which establishes the rent that can be charged during the term of the Agreement. A ceiling is also placed on the income of households who will occupy the newly created self-contained unit.

Assistance

The assistance is in the form of a fully forgivable loan which does not have to be repaid provided the owner adheres to the conditions of the program. The maximum loan available varies in accordance to the geographic zone in which the property is located:

A 25% supplement in assistance is available in remote areas.

Eligible costs

Eligible costs include all costs related to the creation of a self-contained secondary or garden suite. Additional assistance is also available under RRAP for Persons with Disabilities to undertake accessibility modifications for low-income persons with disabilities.

The cost of creating and upgrading common areas and elements will be prorated between the existing unit and the newly created unit. Homeowners may be eligible for assistance under Homeowner RRAP to cover their share of the prorated costs subject to the program criteria being met.

Other programs are also available to assist in undertaking major repairs to substandard housing, or minor home adaptations to meet the needs of seniors with an age-related difficulty.

In some areas of the country, 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 jurisdictions.

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