Rooming House Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program

The Rooming House RRAP offers repair assistance to owners of rooming houses with rents affordable to low-income individuals. This program is available in both urban and rural areas. Funding is provided jointly by the Government of Canada (75%) and the Province of Nova Scotia (25%).

Description

This program helps fund repairs and modifications that help preserve Canada's stock of affordable housing.

Eligibility

Owners 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. In addition, the property must lack basic facilities or require major repair in one or more of five categories:

• structural
• electrical
• plumbing
• heating
• fire safety

Eligible Repairs

Eligible repairs are limited to mandatory repairs required to bring rooming houses up to minimum levels of health and safety. Once repaired, the property should have a further useful life of 15 years, assuming normal care and maintenance.

Ineligible Repairs

Work carried out before the Rooming House RRAP loan is approved in writing is not eligible.

Financial Assistance Available

The assistance is in the form of a fully forgivable loan. Owners of rooming houses must enter into a rental agreement which places a ceiling on the rents that can be charged after the repairs are completed, and limits rent increases during the term of the agreement. The amount of assistance available is based on the mandatory repair costs.

The maximum amounts per bed unit is $16,000. The owner must cover the cost of mandatory repairs in excess of the maximum forgivable loan available.

To Apply

Contact the nearest Housing Services office of the Department of Community Services.