A family in Whitby got a grant approved for eleven thousand dollars toward an accessible bathroom. They lost all of it, and the reason was a deposit paid nine days too early.
This is the most expensive mistake in accessible bathroom funding and almost nobody warns you about it.
The rule
Work that starts before you have written approval is not eligible.
Not the deposit. Not the first day of demolition. Not ordering materials. In most programs, evidence that the project commenced before the approval letter was issued disqualifies the whole application — not the portion before approval, the whole thing.
What counts as starting
It varies by program, but assume the strictest reading. A signed contract, a paid deposit, a materials order, a permit application, or a crew on site can all count. If you intend to apply, apply first and wait for the letter in writing.
Which programs this applies to
It applies to the grant and loan programs, not to the tax credits.
| Program | Approval before work? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario Renovates | Yes, strictly | Delivered by Durham Region. Intake closes when the year’s money runs out. |
| Home and Vehicle Modification Program | Yes | Administered by March of Dimes Canada. |
| Veterans Independence Program | Usually | Confirm with your case manager before committing. |
| Home Accessibility Tax Credit | No | Claimed on your return after the work. Timing does not matter. |
| Multigenerational Renovation Credit | No | Same — claimed after, on your return. |
That distinction matters more than it looks. If you are only claiming the tax credits, you can start whenever you like and keep your receipts. If you are applying for a grant, the sequence is the whole game.
The second trap: waiting for money that was never coming
The grant programs are asset tested, and the caps are low — often well below what a Durham Region homeowner holds once the house is counted.
So there is a second, quieter version of this mistake. A family waits eight months for an application to be assessed, does nothing in the meantime because starting would disqualify them, and is then told they do not qualify. Eight months of a parent climbing over a tub wall, for nothing.
Work out which side of the line you are on first
A family that qualifies for the asset-tested grants is generally not in a position to finance a bathroom, and a family that can finance one will generally not qualify. It is usually obvious within two minutes of honest conversation, and knowing saves you months.
The sequence that works
One. Work out whether you are likely to qualify for asset-tested funding. If you clearly are not, stop reading about grants and claim the tax credits instead.
Two. If you might qualify, get the written quote you need for the application. A quote is not work starting. An assessment is not work starting.
Three. Apply, and wait for the approval letter in your hand.
Four. Then sign, then pay a deposit, then start.
We will give you the written scope and fixed price your application needs and hold that price while you wait. We do not administer any of these programs and we do not apply on your behalf, but we will not let you pay us a deposit that costs you a grant.
See which programs actually fit
The funding page splits them into the ones with no income test and the ones that are asset tested, and says plainly who each is really for.