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Your tenancy and lease
Find out your rights and responsibilities as a tenant and how to update us about changes that affect your tenancy.
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Tenancy and lease information
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Types of rent
Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI)
This is rent paid for subsidized housing. If you qualify to pay rent geared to your income, the amount is usually 30 per cent of your household’s monthly Adjusted Family Net Income, which is determined using your annual tax return. If some or all of your income is from Ontario Works (OW) or the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), your rent is calculated according to a rate set by the Ontario government. Your total rent may also include charges for parking or utilities.
Applying for subsidized housing
If you would like to apply for rent-geared-to-income, apply online on MyAccesstoHousingTO（https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/employment-social-support/housing-support/rent-geared-to-income-subsidy/）. You can also apply in-person at the Access to Housing Resource Centre at 176 Elm Street in Toronto. If you have an existing application, you can contact the Application Support Centre at 416-338-8888 (TRS 7-1-1 ).
Please note: There is a waiting list for subsidized housing. It could be several years before you are offered a rent-geared-to-income subsidy.
Affordable rent
This type of rent is set at or below average market rent. To qualify, your household’s annual gross income cannot be more than four times the annual rent of the unit for which you are applying.
Market rent
This type of rent is the same as rents charged by private landlords in the area. Rent increases annually based on provincial guidelines. There are no income requirements to rent one of these units.
Paying your rent
Tenants can pay their rent in several ways.
Pre-authorized payment (PAP)
This is the easiest way to make sure your rent is always paid on time. For pre-authorized rent payment, your bank sends your rent payment from your bank account directly to Toronto Community Housing on the first day of every month. Use the PAP form (PDF)（https://torontohousing.ca/sites/default/files/2023-05/pad_form_personal.pdf） to set up this type of payment.
You will get a form to set up this type of payment when you sign your lease. If you need another form, please visit your Tenant Services Coordinator at the Tenant Service Hubs, or call the Client Care Centre.
Both your bank and Toronto Community Housing will charge you a fee if there are not enough funds in your account on the first of each month.
Bank, credit union, trust or cheque cashing company payment
You can pay rent by cheque or electronically through your bank, credit union, trust company, or cheque cashing company.
Phone or online banking payment
You may be able to pay your rent by phone or online banking. Speak to someone at your bank, credit union or trust company to find out how.
In-person payment at your Tenant Service Hub
You can visit your Tenant Service Hub（https://torontohousing.ca/current-tenants/services-and-support/tenant-service-hubs） and pay directly with your personal cheque, certified bank draft or debit card.
Direct payment from social assistance programs
If you receive Ontario Works (OW) or the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), you can pay directly from one of these programs. Give your TCHC account number and address to your case worker. They can set up the direct payments.
Call us if you think you might miss or be late with a rent payment
We want to help you keep your home. If you miss rent payments, you will be in arrears. If your rent is geared-to-income, this puts you at risk of losing your subsidy. We can make special arrangements to help you if you are in hospital or have a personal emergency.
Call the Client Care Centre at 416-981-5500 (TRS 7-1-1 ) so that your Tenant Services Coordinator or Tenant Service Hub team knows. We can work with you to create a repayment plan.
Reporting changes to your household or income
The City of Toronto and Province of Ontario set the rules for rent-geared-to-income subsidies.
Under the rules, your rent amount must be reviewed every year. However, if any of the following events occur, you must report the change to Toronto Community Housing within 30 days:
A permanent change in your household composition, such as number of household members and/or household income;
A household member stops being in full-time attendance at a recognized educational institution;
A member of the household begins or stops receiving social assistance, such as Ontario Works (OW) or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP);
A member of the household has had their taxes reassessed; and
A member collecting OW or ODSP has a permanent increase in income that exceeds their non-benefit income limit.
If you do not report these changes, you could be charged for back rent or lose your rent-geared-to-income subsidy, or both. Your rent would then be raised to market rent. If you have questions about reporting income or household changes, speak with your Tenant Services Coordinator.
To report any of these changes, simply complete the Household Income and Assets Review Form (PDF)（https://torontohousing.ca/sites/default/files/2023-03/pdf_form_-_household_income_and_assets_review.pdf）.
For instructions on how to show proof of household income and assets, please reference the How to show proof of household income and assets guide (PDF)（https://torontohousing.ca/sites/default/files/2023-03/pdf_-_how_to_show_proof_of_houshold_incme_and_assets_guide_pdf.pdf）.
Are you or someone in your household turning 65 this year?
When you or a member of your household turn 65, you may start to receive benefits like Old Age Security or the Canada Pension Plans that affect the annual income for your household. This may affect the annual income for your household and this may affect the rent you pay each month. This process can take time so it is recommended that you start when you turn 64 in order to avoid an income gap and accumulating arrears.
If you receive a pension from another country, you need to report this income to Toronto Community Housing.
If you have questions about the Canada Pension Plan or Old Age Security, information is available on the Canada Public Pensions webpage（https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp.html）.
Market households in need of rent-geared-to-income subsidy (in situ)
What is it?
Households that are currently paying market rent and require financial assistance may be eligible for an in situ rent-geared-to-income (RGI) subsidy from the City of Toronto. The term "in situ" means the subsidy will applied to their current unit.
How do I qualify?
To qualify for an in situ RGI subsidy, your household must meet all of the following criteria:
Your household has applied to the centralized waiting list administered by the City of Toronto, Access to Housing and has been notified that you are eligible;
Your household is requesting RGI assistance in the unit where you currently live;
Toronto Community Housing has determined that your household qualifies, under the Local Occupancy Standards set by the City of Toronto, for the unit size that you currently occupy;
Your household has lived in a building owned by Toronto Community Housing for the last five or more consecutive years; and
Your household is in good standing with Toronto Community Housing. This means you must have a zero balance for outstanding rent or occupancy charges, or a written repayment agreement in good standing.
How do I apply?
Talk to your Tenant Services Coordinator if you think you qualify. You will need:
a completed City of Toronto Subsidized Housing Application（https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/9546-RGI_AODA_Filliable-.pdf）;
a completed Household Income and Assets Review form（https://torontohousing.ca/sites/default/files/2023-03/pdf_form_-_household_income_and_assets_review.pdf）;
proof of status documents for all household members; and
income and assets documentation for all household members 16 years of age or older.
Note: If you already have an application with the City of Toronto, you are not required to fill out another application. Please provide your application number.
When do I get my RGI subsidy?
If approved by Toronto Community Housing, your RGI subsidy will start on the first day of the month following the month that your in situ application was approved.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the in situ RGI subsidy or the application process, contact your Tenant Services Coordinator. You can also call our Client Care Centre at 416-981-5500 (TRS 7-1-1 ) or send an email to help@torontohousing.ca.
Add someone or remove someone from your rent-geared-to-income household
If someone moves in or moves out of your unit, you must let Toronto Community Housing know within 30 days. If someone in your household gives birth to a child, you can wait to report this change until your next annual rent review.
To add someone to your household:
Complete the Addition to Household Composition Request Form (PDF)（https://torontohousing.ca/sites/default/files/2023-03/pdf_-_addition_to_household_composition_form.pdf） and review the Addition to Household Composition Terms and Conditions (PDF)（https://torontohousing.ca/sites/default/files/2023-03/pdf_-_addition_to_household_composition_terms.pdf）. You can also get copies by visiting your Tenant Service Hub or by calling the Client Care Centre.
Attach all supporting documents.
Send or bring the information to your Tenant Service Hub.
If your request is approved:
You may need to sign a new lease.
Your rent will be recalculated based on your new household income.
If a person was added to your household and was on the City of Toronto’s centralized waiting list for social housing, he or she will be removed from the list.
Some conditions must be met before another person can be added to your household. They include:
The person must be eligible for a rent-geared-to-income subsidy.
Adding the person must meet the City of Toronto’s occupancy standards (under the Toronto Municipal Code Property Standards section).
Your account must be in good standing.
Please contact your Tenant Services Coordinator within 30 days of someone moving out of your home. If the person was on your lease, they will need to declare in writing that they are giving up any and all interest in the unit. You may need to sign a new lease.
Annual rent review
If you pay rent-geared-to-income, we will send you a rent review package once a year. The package includes forms that you must fill out to report the income of everyone in your household. You must complete and return these forms within 30 days. If you do not, you could lose your rent-geared-to-income subsidy.
Contact your Tenant Service Coordinator or call the Client Care Centre to set up an appointment if you need help completing these forms.
Documentation required for your annual rent review
Effective July 1, 2021, all household members whose income is to be included in the RGI calculation must:
1. File an Income Tax Return; and
2. Submit the Notice of Assessment to their housing provider at the time of their annual income and asset review.
The Province of Ontario has changed the requirements of the Housing Services Act, 2011. As a result, households must file an income tax return to be eligible for RGI.
A Notice of Assessment is the document the Canada Revenue Agency sends after an income tax return has been filed and verified.
For information on free tax clinics, go to https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/free-tax-help.html (opens in a new window or tab).
The City of Toronto's Rent-Geared-to- Income (RGI) Administration manual（https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/community-partners/social-housing-providers/rent-geared-to-income-administration/） (URL opens in a new window or tab) explains what documents are needed for the annual rent review process based on each household members' employment status and income sources. Toronto Community Housing is committed to meeting that standard so that we calculate your rent accurately, help you keep your subsidy and conduct consistent, fair and thorough reviews.
The How to show proof of household income and assets guide (PDF)（https://torontohousing.ca/sites/default/files/2023-03/pdf_-_how_to_show_proof_of_houshold_incme_and_assets_guide_pdf.pdf）summarizes what documentation you need for your annual rent review.