The Laneway Suites
Program
Laneway Suites
Introduction…
In June of 2018, the City of Toronto approved a zoning change that allows for the construction of “Laneway” Housing Units (also referred to as “Laneway Suites” or “Carriage Houses).
This bold, innovative legislation now enables homeowners to convert their rear, detached garage (or empty backyard space) into a 1-2 story rental property without the need for going through a Committee of Adjustment review.
Note: There are some restrictions. For example, the structure must be fully detached from the main house.
There are other specific restrictions that apply with regards to obtaining a building permit, etc. For details go to https://werenovate.com/planningapp to request an estimate for drawings & permit process. You will be contacted immediately.
The new approval for laneway housing represents a meaningful solution to the lack of rental housing within the core of the city, and also adds a new option for renters in the type of units that are close to transportation.
The design & style of a Laneway Home is almost limitless, as these units are fully detached from the main house itself, which makes the design independent from the main house’s design.
Rental Income & Added Property Value: Depending upon the design, the type of accommodations you decide to add within the unit, as well as the area, potential tenants will pay a premium price for such a desirable rental unit.
Compared to the added-value created through the conversion of your basement into a rental apartment (which can be substantial unto itself), the-added value from the construction of a separate, income-producing Laneway Rental Unit will be unsurpassed.
In addition, for those homeowners who prefer not to have “total strangers” living in their basement, a laneway rental unit offers a high degree of privacy.
General Contracting Services
We provide all types and levels of
Renovation Services, including the following:
* Basement Renovations
* Bathrooms
* Kitchens
* Attic Conversions
* Additions & Extensions
* Sunrooms
* Garages
* Carports
* Custom Decks
* Custom Homes
For complete details:
Architectural
Design & Permit Services
Regardless of whether you are planning a major renovation or small project, our member-Architectural Specialists will get you the permit quickly!
For complete information about The Renovation Co-op’s
Architectural Design & Permit Services:
Our Subsidy Discount Program
will save you $1,000’s
on your renovation projects…
For details:
Need Financing?
In 2016, The Canadian Renovation Funding Program was established to oversee the Renovation Co-op’s complex series of Subsidy & Rebate Programs, while providing a free advisory to clients who require financing.
The program consists of a select team of retired and semi-retired finance specialists, each having their own successful careers within specific areas of Financial Services, including Residential & Commercial Mortgage Financing, Investment Banking, Private Mortgage Financing and Construction Loans.
The program also includes experts from the Insurance and Legal Service Industries, with combined expertise in Real Estate Law, Home & Personal Insurance, Eldercare Law, Immigration, Divorce & Family Law, Bankruptcies and Criminal Law.
By providing such a vast range of financial expertise, The Renovation Co-op helps facilitate the flow of business between its registered clients and member service providers.
Recommending Co-op-Approved Brokers
& Related Professional Services
The Funding Program has recently introduced a free Loan Advisory Service, which is being offered exclusively to registered clients of The Renovation Co-op.
Upon the client’s request, a Program Specialist will identify and recommend a specific, Co-op-Approved Mortgage Broker or other Financial Service Provider who regularly specializes in the type of loan product that best fulfills the client’s requirements.
This targeted “pinpointing” of a broker’s unique experience greatly increases the client’s chances of quickly obtaining the most appropriate type of loan that fits his or her needs, and not the other way around.
Co-op-Approved Brokers
All Co-op Approved Mortgage Brokers are highly-skilled, career-minded professionals, whose customer loyalty and personal dedication will always be directed toward their client, and not the lender.
And, as each of our recommended brokers are self-employed business owners, when it comes to long-term relationship-building it is you (the client) who actually becomes the broker’s “employer.” And the only way for the broker to retain that long-term “employment” with you, is to always act in your best interest…and not that of a bank’s or other institution’s employees,
Non-Stop Training…
As new mortgage loan products continue to become more complicated, mortgage brokers must always maintain a vigilant, watchful eye over the industry, always seeking opportunities and/or information that may further help their clients obtain the best mortgage rates, terms and loan conditions.
In fact, most Renovation Co-op-Approved Mortgage Brokers have the highest attendance record in the industry when it comes to participating in financial forums and special loan product briefings.
For many typical, “less-engaged mortgage specialists, this effort has become too hard a challenge.
However, The Renovation Funding Program recommends only serious, career-minded mortgage specialists who are already highly motivated to grow and excel within their own professional levels of financial expertise.
Note: As a registered client, you will always have permanent access to this free advisory service, and you will never be obligated to purchase any services offered through The Renovation Co-op.
However, if you purchase a loan (for any purpose), a credit of $2,500 will be deposited into your Renovation Credit Account. (see Renovation Credit Prog
As an additional incentive for the purchase of renovations, The Renovation Credit Program was created in 2018. This revolutionary program enables registered clients to earn substantial credits when purchasing any Co-op-approved services (non-renovation-related) that are recommended through The Renovation Funding Program.
Upon registering as a client, your online account will contain a link to your Renovation Credit Account, which will normally display an initial balance of “$0.”
When you complete a purchase from a Co-op-approved, Professional Service Partner (Mortgage Broker, Realtor, Insurance Broker, etc.) an amount of $500-$2,500 will be automatically added to your Renovation Credit Balance.
For details:
Estimating Procedures
To help facilitate the flow of private, secured information and communications between our member-service partners and their clients, we’ve developed our own proprietary, Renovation Management Platform.
This unique system enables all project-related information to be entered, updated and tracked 24/7 by both registered clients and Co-op members alike.
For example…one of the biggest issues that most contractors and their clients face is the lack of adequate communications between the two parties throughout the estimating process, and as the project proceeds along its various stages of production.
When you request an estimate, you will have access to your own personal secured account, which will include updated status reports of the estimate process, as well as status reports on construction, progressive payment reports etc, along with the balance of your Renovation Credit Account (see Renovation Credit Program)
Please Note: If your project requires a Building Permit, The Renovation Co-op will be unable to process an estimate for your renovations until you have submitted a copy of the final drawings and a stamped permit.
If you do not have your own architect, please request an estimate for your Drawings and Permit Processing.
Note: If you hire a Co-op Member-Architectural Specialist, you will receive a rebate of up to $1,500. see Architectural Rebate
The following procedures assume that a permit has already been acquired:
Step 1: Project Assessment Report
Step 2: Submission of Bid Request
Step 3: Review of Bid Responses
Step 1: Project Assessment Report
For your Basement Apartment Renovation project, a Senior-Level Contractor is selected to conduct an Initial Site Examination of the property. He or she will first review a copy of the client’s Final Permit drawings, and then personally review the overall project with the homeowner(s).
Following the Initial Site Examination, the senior contractor submits a Project Assessment Report to the Co-op’s Bid Preparation Team.
Step 2: Submission of Bid Request
Step 3: Review of Bid Responses
Step 2: Preparation & Submission
of a Bid Request
Based upon the Project Assessment Report submitted by the senior-level contractor, the Co-op’s Bid Preparation Team determines the type and level of general contracting service that will be required to complete the client’s project.
A Bid Request is then submitted to a carefully targeted group of member-contactors who regularly perform the same type and level of work required by the client.
Step 1: Project Assessment Report
Step 3: Review of Bid Responses
Step 3: Review of Bid Responses
Note: While it is important to ensure that all bid responses are submitted quickly, the targeted group of contractors will always be given adequate time to check availability and pricing from their sub-trades, suppliers, etc. before committing to a price.
Step 1: Project Assessment Report
Step 2: Submission of Bid Request
Step 4: Automatic Request for Subsidy Funds
Upon completion of the bidding process, an automatic request is sent to the Canadian Renovation Funding Program to obtain any Subsidy Discount Funds, Rebates or Grants that may be available for the project. (see Subsidies, Rebates and Incentives)
The approval of subsidy funds for each request normally takes 4-6 hours, and is determined based upon the availability of funds at the time of the request, as well as the type of project involved and its location.
Step 1: Project Assessment Report
Step 2: Submission of Bid Request
Step 5: Online Estimate Review
Upon completion of the bidding process and the automatic request for Subsidy Funds, a telephone appointment is arranged between a Co-op Service Rep and the client to simultaneously review the completed estimate.
Throughout this 5-minute Online Estimate Review, the rep verifies that the client fully understands what is being presented, and that the client can properly navigate through the estimate.
The client’s Online Estimate is divided into 2 segments:
Scope of Work: Provides a full, detailed description of the work that is to be performed
Contract Price: Displays the Final Sale Price after deductions from approved subsidy funds and rebates have been calculated, along with the portion of Renovation Credit that can be applied (if available from within the client’s Renovation Credit Account). see Renovation Credit Program
Step 1: Project Assessment Report
Step 2: Submission of Bid Request
Estimate Request:
