Real Estate Blog

Unlocking New opportunities with the Secondary Suite Grant

The Saskatchewan Secondary Suite Incentive (SSI) grant program is designed to improve housing affordability by generating supplementary income for homeowners and increase the availability of rental units in our communities. The grant program will provide 35% of the cost to build a new secondary suite at an owner’s primary residence, to a maximum grant of $35,000 per qualifying property.

A qualifying property is a new private, self-contained residential unit and includes basement suites, laneway homes, garden suites, and garage suites. The qualifying property must include a full kitchen and full bathroom and must meet all national, provincial and municipal bylaws, codes and standards. The owner must have received all required permitting and legal approvals necessary for the unit to be used as a rental property.

Eligibility:

• The SSI grant program provides 35.0 per cent of the cost to build a new secondary suite at an owner’s primary residence. The grant amount is capped at a maximum of $35,000 per qualifying property.
• A qualifying property is a new private, self-contained residential unit within a single-family detached home and includes laneway homes, garden suites, and garage suites. Only one secondary suite unit may be funded per applicant/per property.
• The qualifying property must include a full kitchen and full bathroom and must meet all national, provincial and municipal bylaws, codes and standards.
• Eligible costs must be directly related to construction, or renovation of existing space, which results in a net new rental unit. Examples include engineering and architectural services, materials and contract labour related to construction, interior finishing, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work, and standard appliances.
• The owner must have received all permitting and legal approvals necessary for the unit to be used as a rental, however the program eligibility criteria will not require verification that the suite has been rented before the grant is awarded.
• The SSI will be administered by the Ministry of Finance and may be used alongside the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) Rebate for New Home Construction provided the qualifications are met.