The Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ) covers the costs of the RénoRégion Program. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation  may also contribute. The SHQ administers the program and delegates application at the local level to regional county municipalities (RCMs) and specified municipalities.

Eligibility

The program is intended for owner-occupants of a housing unit with one or more major defects that is located in an eligible area.

The difference between the owner-occupant’s annual household income and the applicable income level (AIL) must be less than or equal to $12,000. The AIL varies depending on the size of the household and the area in which the household is located.

Other eligibility conditions

• The housing unit must be occupied as a primary residence by the owner who is applying for financial assistance. In addition:
  • The building may have no more than two housing units, including the owner-occupant’s unit;
  • The residential portion of a mixed-use building (e.g. store on the ground floor and housing unit above) is eligible if it meets the other program conditions.
• The value of the building must not exceed the maximum standardized value* set by the municipality or RCM for program eligibility within its territory. Also, this value cannot exceed the maximum provided by the SHQ ($150,000).

Owners are ineligible for the program if they have received assistance from this program or the Rénovation Québec program in the 5 years prior to their application.

*The standardized value is obtained by multiplying the value of the building (excluding the value of the land) by the comparative factor shown on the municipal notice of assessment.

Assistance available

The RénoRégion program provides financial assistance that is paid out only upon completion of the work.

This financial assistance may cover up to 95 percent of the approved cost of the eligible work, up to a maximum of  $20,000
(or $25,000 if the household’s annual income is less than or equal to the AIL).
 
The cost of eligible work is either the lowest bid received, the cost invoiced by the contractor or that determined from the price list in effect for the program, whichever is the least.

The amount of the financial assistance is determined by multiplying the approved cost of the eligible work by the percentage of financial assistance to which the recipient is entitled. This percentage varies depending on the difference between household income and the applicable income level.

Eligible work

The housing unit must need work with a value of at least $3,500 to correct one or more major defects involving at least one of the following components:

• Exterior walls
• Openings
• Projections
• Roof
• Structure
• Electricity
• Plumbing
• Heating
• Thermal insulation

The work must be performed by a contractor with the appropriate licence from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec  (RBQ), must start after the municipality or RCM grants approval and must be completed within six months of the approval date.

Program registration

1. Applicants must first contact their municipality or RCM , as applicable. The applicant’s eligibility for the program will be determined and the applicant will be informed of any documents required for the file.
2. A certified inspector will then visit the building to draw up a list of eligible work to be recorded in the specifications.
3. Based on these specifications, the applicant must obtain one or more bids from contractors who hold an appropriate RBQ licence and submit to the municipality or RCM the bid of the contractor chosen to perform the work.
4. The municipality or RCM will complete the file and, if everything is acceptable, issue a certificate of eligibility indicating the amount that will be paid out upon completion of the work, provided all program conditions have been met. This document will also authorize the owner to start the work.
5. Once the work is complete, the certified inspector will determine whether it complies with the specifications and submit a report to the municipality or RCM. Once that report is approved, the applicant will receive the authorized payment.

Eligible municipalities

The RénoRégion Program applies to all municipalities with a population of less than 15,000 and those located in the administrative region of Gaspésie−Îles-de-la-Madeleine. In municipalities with a population of more than 15,000, the program applies to areas without public water or sewer service (private or public).

The program does not apply to the cities of Gatineau and Laval nor to the greater Longueuil, Montreal and Quebec City areas. Northern villages and Indian reserves are also ineligible.

Information

The RénoRégion Program is administered by the Société d’habitation du Québec through its housing improvement department, in conjunction with RCMs and some municipalities.

For more information about the RénoRégion Program, please contact your municipality or RCM .

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