Nova Scotia homeowners have more lucrative support to create secondary or backyard residential suites and an expanded list of prospective tenants. Partially forgivable provincial loans of up to $40,000 are now on offer to landlords who commit to affordable rents that are no more than 80 per cent of the current market rate.

The newly augmented loan amount is a 60 per cent increase from when the Nova Scotia government introduced the program last October, and the 25 borrowers who have already been approved automatically qualify for the new top-up. Up to $20,000 or 50 per cent of eligible capital costs, whichever is the lesser amount, will be forgiven.

Previously, the loan was available only if homeowners’ senior parents/step-parents (65+ years) or adult children/stepchildren were slated to be the tenants of the new accessory unit. The eligibility criteria now extends to other relationships including grandchildren, siblings, aunts, uncles, niece, nephews or any other family member living with a disability.

“These changes will help more people build affordable homes for people who need them, whether that’s a family member with a disability who needs an accessible unit, a senior family member or a post-secondary student,” says John Lohr, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

“This means people won’t have to leave their communities of choice to find accessible housing,” maintains Lora Church, executive director of Nova Scotia Residential Agencies Association, which advocates for people with disabilities. “People will be able to live more independently, but with support from family members close by if they need it.”