Funding guide · Updated October 2026

Paying for home accessibility renovations in BC

A few government programs help BC homeowners pay for grab bars, accessible showers, ramps, stairlifts and similar changes. The main three are a rebate you must be approved for before work starts and two tax credits you claim afterward. Eligible veterans may also have support through Veterans Affairs Canada. Getting the order right matters more than anything else on this page.

By Laura Sinclair Faunt, Co-Founder, Adapt & Thrive, Greater Victoria · Updated October 20, 2026 · 10-minute read

The short answer. In British Columbia, most accessibility renovation funding comes from three government programs, plus Veterans Affairs Canada for eligible veterans. Confirm every detail with the program itself before you rely on it.

BC RAHA (BC Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptations): a BC Housing rebate of up to $20,000 per household, lifetime, for lower- and moderate-income households. You must have written approval before any work begins.
Federal Home Accessibility Tax Credit (HATC): a non-refundable credit on up to $20,000 of eligible expenses per year for a person who is 65 or older or eligible for the Disability Tax Credit. At the 2026 lowest federal rate of 14%, that is worth up to about $2,800.
BC Home Renovation Tax Credit for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities: a refundable credit of 10% on up to $10,000 of eligible expenses, so up to $1,000 a year.

Please read: we are not the source. Adapt & Thrive is a renovation company. We are not affiliated with BC Housing, the Canada Revenue Agency, Veterans Affairs Canada or the Government of BC, and we do not administer, assess or advise on any funding or tax program. This page is a plain-language summary of public information, linked to the official sources below. Programs, amounts and rules change, and we cannot guarantee this summary is complete, current or correct. Always confirm details, and whether you qualify, directly with the program or a qualified tax professional. Adapt & Thrive accepts no responsibility for decisions made based on this page.

Do things in this order

Check BC RAHA eligibility first. If you might qualify, apply and wait for written approval before booking any work. Work completed before approval is not eligible.
Get the assessments the rebate needs. Some adaptations need an occupational therapist (OT), physiotherapist or other medical professional to confirm they are needed.
Get a written, itemized estimate. BC Housing may ask for contractor estimates, particularly for larger or non-standard work.
Finish the work within the approval window. BC RAHA gives you 180 days from approval.
Keep every invoice and proof of payment for the tax credits you claim when you file your return.

BC RAHA: the BC Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptations

Official source: BC Housing, BC RAHA · Phone 604-433-2218 or 1-800-257-7756

BC RAHA is run by BC Housing. It replaced the older Home Adaptations for Independence program (HAFI), and BC Housing says old HAFI forms are no longer accepted. If you see "HAFI" in an article, it is out of date.

Who qualifies

Someone in the household has a permanent disability or a lasting loss of ability, and the adaptations relate to it.
Gross household income is under $146,270 (the figure on BC Housing's January 2026 homeowner application, which notes limits can change).
Household assets are under $100,000, not counting equity in the home being adapted.
The home is the primary residence, and its BC Assessment value is below BC Housing's home value limit for your area.
Homeowners can apply. Tenants and landlords can apply together if the rental is a legal, self-contained suite.

How the rebate works

The maximum is $20,000 per household over its lifetime, and that total includes any HAFI funding received after April 2019.
Each type of adaptation has its own cap, set out in BC Housing's Maximum Rebate Schedule. You receive the lesser of the cap or your actual cost.
BC Housing aims to assess complete applications within about 8 weeks. Incomplete applications are not reviewed.
After approval you have 180 days to complete the work.
The rebate is paid as a cheque to the homeowner or landlord, which BC Housing says arrives within about 3 weeks of the work being finished and the paperwork received. You pay the contractor first.
Funding is first come, first served. Intake closes March 31 each year, or sooner if funds run out, and reopens April 1.
If you do the work yourself, only materials are covered, not your labour.
An OT or PT home assessment, where one is needed, is covered up to $300 per household per year.

Rebate caps for common adaptations

These figures are from BC Housing's Maximum Rebate Schedule (effective April 2024). Check the current schedule before you plan around a number.

Adaptation	Maximum rebate
Tub converted to a walk-in or wheel-in shower	$9,100
Tub converted to a walk-in tub or tub cutout	$1,750
Grab bar or bathtub safety rail (each)	$275
Attached or wall-mounted shower seat (each)	$275
Handheld showerhead (each)	$220
Raised toilet or bio-bidet (each)	$700
Exterior ramp	$6,000
Interior ramp	$2,750
Threshold ramp (each)	$1,100
Handrails, interior or exterior (per foot)	$130
Widened interior door (each)	$1,100
Widened exterior door (each)	$3,000
Straight stairlift (each)	$10,000
Curved stairlift	$15,000
Elevator or porch lift	$20,000
Unsafe flooring replaced with non-slip vinyl (per sq ft)	$13
Kitchen counter lowered or raised (each)	$5,500

BC RAHA does not cover roof, window or heating repairs, general maintenance, or duplicate adaptations.

Federal Home Accessibility Tax Credit (HATC)

Official source: Canada Revenue Agency, line 31285

Who it is for: a "qualifying individual" who is 65 or older by the end of the year, or who is eligible for the Disability Tax Credit. Certain family members who support them can claim it instead.
The home: a home in Canada where the qualifying individual normally lives.
Amount: up to $20,000 of eligible expenses per year. It is non-refundable, so it reduces tax owing but will not create a refund on its own.
What counts: renovations that make the home safer or more accessible, or let the person be more mobile and functional in it, such as ramps, widened doorways, handrails, barrier-free showers, grab bars and stairlifts.
What does not: routine repairs and maintenance, appliances, and work done mainly to increase the home's value. Your own labour does not count, though materials can.
Where to claim it: line 31285 of your federal return. Keep invoices and proof of payment; you do not send them in, but the CRA can ask for them.

If an expense also qualifies as a medical expense, the CRA says you can claim it under both the medical expense tax credit and the Home Accessibility Tax Credit.

BC Home Renovation Tax Credit for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities

Official source: Government of BC

Who it is for: BC residents who are 65 or older in the tax year, or who qualify for the Disability Tax Credit, and family members who live with them.
Amount: 10% of up to $10,000 in eligible expenses, so up to $1,000 a year, shared among everyone claiming for the same home.
Refundable: yes. You can receive it even if you owe no tax.
Examples the province gives: adding a main-floor bathroom or bedroom needed for access, and flooring that improves the use of a walker or wheelchair. Condo and co-op owners may be able to claim their share of eligible common-area work.
Not eligible: general maintenance, ordinary flooring replacement, appliances, and your own labour.
Where to claim it: Schedule BC(S12), then box 60480 on form BC479 with your return.

Veterans: Veterans Affairs Canada

Official source: Veterans Affairs Canada, Veterans Independence Program · Phone 1-866-522-2122

Veterans Affairs Canada's Veterans Independence Program (VIP) lists home adaptations among its services: a contribution toward changes to a veteran's principal residence that are needed for daily living. Eligibility depends on the veteran's situation, for example having qualified for a VAC disability benefit or the War Veterans Allowance. VAC does not list specific items such as ramps or grab bars on that page, so call VAC to confirm what is covered before work begins.

Can you use more than one?

Often, yes. The CRA says the federal Home Accessibility Tax Credit is not reduced by government assistance, including grants, so a BC RAHA rebate does not shrink your federal claim. The CRA also says an expense that qualifies as both a medical expense and a home accessibility expense can be claimed as both.

The BC seniors renovation credit has its own rules. Ask your tax preparer how your rebate and both credits fit together before you file.

The mistakes that cost people money

Starting work before RAHA approval. It is the most common way to lose the rebate.
Using US information. Many websites describe US grants and ADA standards. BC uses CSA B651 for accessible design and has its own programs.
Vague invoices. "Bathroom renovation, $28,000" is harder to support than an invoice that lists the grab bars, shower conversion and flooring separately.
Missing the March 31 intake close. If funds for the year run out, you may be waiting until April.

Where Adapt & Thrive fits: we cannot tell you whether you qualify, help with applications, or give tax advice. For those, contact BC Housing, the CRA or your tax preparer directly. What we can do is provide a clear, itemized written estimate and invoices that list each item separately, which you can share with the program or your tax preparer. If you are applying for a rebate, please let us know so no work starts before you have written approval.

Common questions

Is BC RAHA a grant or a loan?

It is a rebate, not a loan. BC Housing approves eligible adaptations first, you complete the work and pay for it, and BC Housing then sends a rebate cheque for the approved amount.

What is the maximum BC RAHA rebate?

Up to $20,000 per household over its lifetime, including any HAFI funding received after April 2019. Each adaptation also has its own cap.

What is the BC RAHA income limit in 2026?

BC Housing's January 2026 homeowner application lists a gross household income limit of $146,270 and an asset limit of $100,000 (not counting the home). BC Housing notes these limits can change, so check the current application.

Can I start the renovation and apply for BC RAHA later?

No. Work completed before you receive written approval from BC Housing is not eligible, apart from limited emergency cases before a hospital release. Ask BC Housing before starting anything.

Is the Home Accessibility Tax Credit only for seniors?

No. It is for people 65 or older and for people eligible for the Disability Tax Credit, at any age. Some family members can claim it on their behalf.

Does a BC RAHA rebate reduce the Home Accessibility Tax Credit?

No. The CRA says the federal Home Accessibility Tax Credit is not reduced by government assistance, including grants. Check with your tax preparer about the BC seniors renovation credit.

Is there accessibility renovation funding for veterans?

Veterans Affairs Canada's Veterans Independence Program lists home adaptations among its services for eligible veterans, as a contribution toward changes to their principal residence needed for daily living. Call VAC at 1-866-522-2122 to confirm eligibility and what is covered.

Does BC RAHA replace HAFI?

Yes. BC RAHA replaced the Home Adaptations for Independence (HAFI) program, and old HAFI forms are no longer accepted.

Talk it through with us

Tell us what has become difficult at home and what you are considering. We will give you a straight answer about next steps, with no pressure to take on work you do not need.

Ask about your home Call (778) 557-3444

Sources

Checked October 20, 2026. Programs and limits change, so confirm with the official source before you rely on a figure.