Rent Bank

The Provincial Rent Bank Program is a LOAN which is interest free to assist applicants with rental arrears and with last months rent. The following is a list of criteria for applicants to follow:

• Applicants must be facing eviction to qualify for the Arrears Assistance Program
• Maximum loan amounts are equivalent to two times the average market rent for the area.  Please note that average market rents for the area do get reissued periodically.

• Applicants must be a resident of City of Kawartha Lakes or Haliburton County and meet requirements for status in Canada (attach proof to application)
• Applicants must be below the Household Income Levels. Please note that Household Income Limits for the area do get reissued periodically.

Bachelor=$21,000   1 Bed=$26,500    2 Bed=$32,000    3 Bed=$35,000    4 Bed=$41,000

• Applicants must have a steady income.

• Applicant’s rent-to-income ratio must be below 70% and they must be able to demonstrate that they are able to sustain their housing and repay the rent bank loan.

• Applicants must detail and document all income and expenses.

• The landlord must be involved in the process and in the order to receive arrears assistance must be willing to ensure the tenancy of the applicant

• Applicants must involve their landlord from the commencement of the application to ensure that every effort to negotiate a payment agreement directly with the landlord has been made. The office will contact the landlord to assess the tenant landlord relationship.

• Applicants must demonstrate that housing is sustainable, habitable and must reside in the City of Kawartha Lakes or the County of Haliburton. Applicants must be residing as legal tenants in units that are safe and not hazardous to their health.

• Applicants currently receiving social assistance are not eligible until they demonstrate that all assistance through other funding or grants available are exhausted. This will be determined through contact with the Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program caseworker, the applicant and the staff of the Housing Department.

• Applicants can only apply once in a two year period, repayment of an existing loan may enable an earlier application period.
• Applicants that owe arrears to any social or affordable housing provider in the City of Kawartha Lakes or County of Haliburton will not be eligible.

• Rent Bank Application Form (PDF) (Word)