The Town of Smiths Falls is a vibrant and growing community that offers a range of housing options. 

In 2020, the Town completed the Smiths Falls Housing Report which assessed our current housing stock and identified gaps in availability and type of housing. The report outlined 17 recommendations to address current needs and work to ensure there is adequate housing options for the future.

Search for a House or Apartment for Rent in Smiths Falls

Housing Programs and Services

Lanark County provides a range of housing and homelessness programs for Lanark County and the Town of Smiths Falls.  The County’s 2019 Housing and Homelessness Plan was developed in conjunction with the 2018 Lanark County Housing Study and provides an analysis of the current need and supply for all forms of housing, specifically affordable housing.

Lanark County Homeless Response Team  

Lanark County administers short-term emergency shelter benefit through the Housing Assistance Program. This program supports persons who've become homeless recently, victims of domestic violence, or people who've been impacted by an apartment fire or a similar type of emergency.  

For information on these short-term emergency shelter benefit, please call 613-267-4200 extension 2140 or toll-free 1-888-9-LANARK.

 

Lanark County Family and Social Services Division offers the following Housing Services and Programs:

Adult Supportive Housing
Housing Services works closely with several privately operated, permanent residences for people who have a medical or financial need for Adult Supportive Housing. Learn More.
Homemakers Program
The Homemakers Program offers housekeeping assistance if you live alone and/or are unable to do light housekeeping, with services provided by Care Partners and Bayshore Homecare Solutions. Learn More.
Home ownership Program
This program is funding through Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative. It assists low to moderate income households currently renting a home in Lanark County or the Town of Smiths Falls to purchase a home by providing a one-time 20-year forgivable loan for up to 5% of the purchase price for first time home buyers; household income limit must be less than $93,700, house value less than $388,422. Learn More.
Housing Assistance Program

The Housing Assistance Program provides financial and non-financial assistance to eligible residents of Lanark County who are in immediate risk of losing housing or are homeless. You may be eligible to receive assistance (up to $1,000 per calendar year). Learn More.
Portable Housing Benefit
A portable housing benefit (PHB) is a monthly benefit paid directly to eligible low-income households to bridge the gap between affordable rent (roughly 30% of income) and some or all of average market rent. Learn More.
Renovate Lanark 
Renovate Lanark offers Financial assistance, in the form of a forgivable loan (maximum $10,000) or accessibility grant (maximum $5,000) to allow low income homeowners to conduct mandatory home repairs permitting continued safe occupancy of their home. Learn More.
Social Housing Registry for Rent Geared to Income (RGI) Housing  
Lanark County Social Housing operates the Social Housing Registry, which is a centralized wait list for all rent-geared-to-income properties in Lanark County, including the Lanark County Housing Corporation.  In an RGI unit tenants pay 30% of their total family income as rent.  The wait list increased by 10.5% from 625 (2018) to 690 (2019).  Learn More.

Other Housing Programs

Low Income Energy Assistance Program
A grant program through the Ontario Energy Board intended to provide emergency relief to eligible low-income consumer who may be experiencing difficulty paying their bill. LEAP is funded by all utility ratepayers through the distribution rates of each utility.  Learn More.
Shared Equity Mortgage Providers Fund - Shared equity mortgages

Loans to SEMPs to fund shared equity mortgages that they provide directly to first-time homebuyers.

There are two streams within the Shared Equity Mortgage Providers Fund. This is the Shared Equity Mortgage Stream for the funding of shared equity mortgages that will be provided by the proponent directly to first-time homebuyers (Stream 2). Learn more.

Tenant Resources

Housing Services

For general inquiries or if you are not sure who to call, you can reach Lanark County Housing Services staff, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 613-267-4200 ext. 2402 or housingapplications@lanarkcounty.ca
Landlord and Tenant Board

The Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) resolves:

  • disputes between residential landlords and tenants
  • eviction applications filed by non-profit housing co-operatives

The LTB also provides information about its practices and procedures and the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants under the Residential Tenancies Act.

 

Learn more by visiting the LTB website.

Landlord and Housing Developer Programs & Resources

Smiths Falls Community Improvement Program

In 2022, the Town of Smiths Falls updated is former Community Improvement Program (CIP) to include financial support to landlords and developers interested in creating or improving housing in Smiths Falls:

  • Program 4: Attainable Housing Building Permit Fee and Planning Application Fee Rebate

  • Program 6: Attainable Housing Additional Residential Unit (ARU) Rebate

  • Program 7: Attainable Housing and Universal Accessibility Co-Application

Get more information about CIP programs and eligibility.  

National Housing Co-Investment Fund: New Construction

Low-interest loans and contributions to build new affordable housing. 

This New Construction option of the National Housing Co-Investment Fund provides low-interest loans and contributions to build new affordable housing. The Fund prioritizes partnerships between governments, non-profits, the private sector and other partners. Learn More.

National Housing Co-Investment Fund: Renovation

Low-interest loans and contributions to renovate and repair existing buildings for affordable housing.

This Renovation option of the National Housing Co-Investment Fund provides low-interest loans and contributions to renovate and repair affordable and community housing. The Fund prioritizes partnerships between governments, non-profits, private sector and other partners. Learn More.

Rental Construction Financing Initiative

Low-cost loans encouraging the construction of sustainable rental apartment projects across Canada.

CMHC rental construction financing provides low cost funding to eligible borrowers during the most risky phases of product development of rental apartments (construction through to stabilized operations). The minimum loan is $1,000,000, and a maximum of up to 100% of Loan to Cost (for residential loan component).

The initiative focuses on standard rental apartment projects in Canada with general occupants where there is a need for additional rental housing supply. Learn More.
Rapid Housing Initiative Funding – Projects Stream

Application-based project funding to build new housing and/or purchase existing buildings that will be rehabilitated or converted into permanent affordable housing. Learn More.

Shared Equity Mortgage Providers Fund - Preconstruction loans

Funding for preconstruction cost loans to commence new housing projects.

 

There are two streams within the Shared Equity Mortgage Providers Fund. This is the Preconstruction Stream for the development of new projects (Stream 1). Learn More.

Shared Equity Mortgage Providers Fund - Shared equity mortgages

Loans to SEMPs to fund shared equity mortgages that they provide directly to first-time homebuyers.

There are two streams within the Shared Equity Mortgage Providers Fund. This is the Shared Equity Mortgage Stream for the funding of shared equity mortgages that will be provided by the proponent directly to first-time homebuyers (Stream 2). Learn more

Contact Us

Subscribe to this page