Housing programs and services

The City of London Housing team works hard to ensure Londoners have the information and resources they need to find and keep stable, affordable housing.

2024 Ontario Renovates Program

Welcome to the Ontario Renovates Program for 2024
Empowering Homes, Transforming Lives

Limited funding - The application process for 2024 has closed. There is currently a waitlist in place.

The Ontario Renovates Program, funded by the Federal and Provincial governments opened the application process for 2024 on April 1.

This initiative provides crucial financial assistance to low to moderate-income households, focusing on seniors aged 60 or older and individuals with disabilities. Administered by the City of London Municipal Housing, the program extends support to homeowners and landlord/tenant rental units in London and Middlesex County .

Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted. We encourage you to apply early to secure your chance for financial assistance.

Ontario Renovates Program

This program is made possible through funding by the Federal and Provincial governments and offers financial assistance to low to moderate-income households for seniors 60 years or older and persons with disabilities. This program is administered by the City of London, Municipal Housing, and provides limited funding to homeowner(s) and landlord/tenant rental units.

If you have any questions, please email the team at housing@london.ca

Program Information for Homeowner Applications

Financial assistance available:

• a one-time forgivable loan up to $15,000 for home repairs
• a one-time grant up to $5,000 for home accessibility modifications

Eligibility criteria:

• Seniors aged 60 or older and/or persons with disabilities
• Annual gross household income at or below $95,000 (based on the previous year Notice of Assessment line 15000)

• Total household assets at or below $30,000 (including TFSAs, GICs, bonds, mutual funds, savings accounts).

Property Eligibility:

• Located within the city of London or Middlesex County
• Property tax value at or below $320,000 (not fair market value)
• Property with taxes paid up to date.

Requirements for Homeowners:

• Completed and signed Ontario Renovates Program application forms with supporting documentation.
• Government-issued photo identification (i.e., driver’s license, passport, citizenship, or Ontario photo card) for all homeowner(s).
• Pictures showing the proposed repairs(s) and/or modifications(s).
• Three (3) estimates for proposed repair(s) and/or modifications(s).
• Property Tax Assessment verifying payments are paid up to date and the property tax value.
• 2023 Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Notice of Assessment.
• List of assets for household members 18 and over.
• For forgivable loans of $5,000 and above, security will be placed on title for the 10-year forgivable loan period.

Eligible Home Repairs:

• heating system
• chimneys
• doors and windows
• foundations
• roofs
• walls
• floors
• vents/louvers
• electrical systems
• plumbing
• septic system

Eligible Home Accessibility Modifications:

• ramps
• fire alarms
• chair and bath lifts
• handrails
• grab bars
• raised toilets
• levered handles
• accessible shower stalls
• personal emergency response system
• height adjustment to countertops

Please note: Additional supporting documentation (i.e. Medical form) may be requested for assessment of accessibility modification eligibility

Financial assistance available:

• Up to $5,000 grant for approved rental unit accessibility modifications

Eligibility Criteria:

• Senior’s age 60 or older and/or persons with disabilities

• Annual gross household income at or below $95,000 (based on the previous year Notice of Assessment line 15000).

• The total household assets of household members 18 years and older at or below $30,000 (includes TFSAs, GICs, bonds, mutual funds, savings accounts.)

Property Eligibility:

• Located within the city of London or Middlesex County.
• Property taxes paid up to date.

Requirements for the Tenant(s):

• Completed and signed Ontario Renovates application form with all supporting documentation

• Government-issued photo identification (i.e., driver’s license, passport, citizenship, or Ontario photo card)
• Pictures showing the proposed repairs(s) and/or modifications(s)
• Three (3) estimates for proposed repair(s) and/or modifications(s)
• 2023 Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Notice of Assessment
• List of assets for household members 18 and over
• A copy of the executed lease/tenancy agreement or rent receipts, indicating the current rental amount

Requirements for Landlords:

• Property Tax Assessment verifying payments are paid up to date and the property tax value

Note: Additional documentation may be requested for accessibility modification eligibility.

Requirements for the Rental Units:

The rental unit must be modest and the rent not to exceed the Average Market Rent (AMR) in the city of London and Middlesex County as per below:

• Bachelor $863/month
• One Bedroom $1,127/month
• Two Bedroom $1,400/month
• Three Bedroom $1,617/month

The accessibility modification work should not lead to a rent increase for the tenant, with the understanding that yearly increases, as approved by the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, are still permissible. Yearly reviews may be conducted.

Eligible Home Accessibility Modifications:

• ramps
• fire alarms
• chair and bath lifts
• handrails
• grab bars
• raised toilets
• levered handles on doors and faucets
• accessible shower stalls
• personal emergency response system
• height adjustment to countertops

Please note: Additional supporting documentation (i.e., Medical form) may be requested to assess accessibility modification eligibility, at the discretion of the City of London.

If you have any questions about the Ontario Renovates Program, you can contact Municipal Housing at: 519-661-CITY (2489) ext. 5523 or housing@london.ca .

Note: Any work completed prior to the approval of the Ontario Renovates Program will not be considered and approved for funding.

Capital investments are an important part of ensuring the future sustainability of our social housing assets. As building and infrastructure age, the cost of capital repair expenditures will significantly accumulate and in some cases, beyond what social housing providers have available in their capital reserve fund. The capital funding program administered by the City of London is meant to bridge some of the funding gaps to help stabilize and grow the social housing sector. This program is made possible by funding by all three levels of government.

Program Requirements

In an effort to standardize and simplify the capital application process, the templates and documents referenced below must be completed and submitted to the Housing Division. To receive your templates, please reach out directly to Clyde Almeida, the Maintenance & Capital Support Officer at calmeida@london.ca Please note that all templates will be emailed to all housing providers prior to April 1, 2023.

Templates required:

• Capital Repair and Improvement Funding Application Form (CRIF)
• Letter of Intent: The Letter of Intent is to communicate high-level information on the intended project and scope of the work over three years with best estimates. This should be submitted before you start sourcing quotes from contractors.
• Capital Planning Template: The Capital Planning Template is a 10-year plan and must be completed and include an itemized list of expenditures from the first three years and estimates for the remaining seven years. This template must be submitted before you start sourcing quotes from contractors. Please note that this template can be submitted starting April 1, 2023.

Submission

Please send completed application documents to our Maintenance & Capital Support Officer, Clyde Almeida at calmeida@london.ca or via mail c/o Municipal Housing, Citi Plaza, 2nd Floor, 355 Wellington Street, London ON N6A 3N7

Please Note: It is important to note that applications will be evaluated based on relative need, quality of application and the ability to complete projects within a certain time frame. All successful applications will be formalized through an agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What types of spends are considered Capital versus Operating?

A: Capital expenses are list investments into the future. Examples of capital expenses might include the purchase of new equipment, or repairs and maintenance that extend the useful life of an asset. Operating expenses are the day-to-day spends required to keep the business running. Examples of operating expenses include recurring annual repair costs, small maintenance jobs, routine landscaping etc.

Q: Why do I need to submit a 3-year capital plan if only the first year is being evaluated for funding?

A: A 3-year capital plan offers a more practical approach to capital planning such that you may find that trying to fit everything into year one may not be feasible and thus some items would be delayed to later years. A 3-year plan also allows the Housing Division to better understand the important and relative priority of each investment that is being considered.

Q: How many quotes do I need to get for each project?

A: For projects expected to cost more than $15,000, we recommend getting three quotes for each project. This allows for competitive pricing and service. If you cannot obtain three quotes, please document your rationale for note being able to obtain three quotes. Quotes should be obtained from reputable and qualified contractors. Ask your colleagues for referrals and/or research the contractor's reviews. Quotes from reputable contractors should be detailed and contain an HST number.

Q: Do I need to get quotes for all three years?

A: Quotes are expected for all year one investments. Quotes are not expected for years two and three, but it is recommended that you use the best estimate available. For example, you might reference previous quotes or estimates in the Building Condition Assessment (BCA) report.

Q: Which contractor's quote should I use for the year one of capital planning spreadsheet?

A: You are not obligated to select the lowest quote, but you should justify why you've chosen a particular contractor (i.e. value for money, time to complete, etc.)

Q: What should be provided to the contractor when asking for a quote?

A: This will depend on the complexity of the project. At minimum, we suggest that following information be provided:

• Project specifications such as details around what needs to be completed, minimum level of quality or specific products to be provided, what needs to be inspected and what existing fixtures need to be protected.
• Timeline for when you would like the project started.

Q: What should I look for in a completed quote from a contractor?

A: The level of information provided through quotes may vary by contractor, but the following items are important:

• A detailed description of the scope of work;
• Project start date and estimated completion date;
• Warranties re: workmanship and products;
• Registered HST number;
• Confirmation that the contractor has provided cost based on specifications or clarity on comparable alternatives and
• Proposed payments terms.

Q: What if I have previously submitted a multi-year plan, do I need to resubmit the year two and three asks?

A: On applications where project submissions for year two and three have been approved, a re-submission of application in those funding years in not required. However, updated and valid quotes and possible financials will need to be provided before final consideration of during can be approved in those years.

Q: Can Engineering or Project Management costs be included for consideration on funding application?

A: For larger scope projects, Engineering and/or Project Management costs can be included in application for funding, however; the housing provider must take into consideration the timeline implications and project(s) completion deadline.

Q: How do I know if I should hire a project manager?

A: Project managers generally have some specialized expertise and are responsible for planning/overseeing projects to ensure they are completed in a timely fashion and within budget. For larger scope projects where a housing provider may require specific industry knowledge or where they feel the property manager will be ill-equipped to manage the added tasks associated with project oversight, it may be warranted to seek project management services. The City of London housing division will be reviewing the letters of intent and may suggest inclusion of project management services if not already identified.

The Mediation Service is a free confidential resource which seeks to assist in the speedy resolution of problems which may arise between students and landlords, students and London residents and/or students and students in the areas of housing and lifestyles.

The Mediation Service has office facilities on the campus of The University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College.

The University of Western Ontario
102 Elgin Hall
London ON N6A 5B9
Tel: 519-661-3787
Fax: 519-661-3687
Open 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday

Fanshawe College
Room F2010
1460 Oxford Street East
London ON N5Y 5R2
Tel: 519-432-4282
Fax: 519-453-2826