Tenant Housing in York

Tenant Housing York refers to the residential rental market, which allows accommodation choices for families and individuals across the country. Canada has varied housing norms and tenant rights that differ depending on a particular province or territory.

Renters can opt for houses, condominiums, or apartments, and understand responsibilities and renters rights as it is important for a successful and smooth renting experience in Canada.

Moving in to Your New Home

Always make sure that you thoroughly inspect the unit prior to moving into it. By doing so, you can make an Inspection Checklist for Houses and list out all the required repairs. In case you need any repairs post moving in or at any time thereafter,  you must fill out a maintenance request form and deposit it in the on-site drop box. Your building manager can show you where forms can be deposited and picked up.

Maintenance and Repair

Regular maintenance and required repairs play an important role in the tenant-owner relationship and in the life of the property. So let’s check on the types of maintenance and the tenant's approach direction to keep things easy and aligned.

Regular Maintenance

NOTE - During Daytime (Business Hours)

For regular maintenance, you need to fill out the Maintenance Request Form, which you can find in the property’s superintendent’s office.

Instance of Regular Maintenance:

• Tap repair
• Minor electrical repairs
• Plaster repair

Emergency Maintenance

NOTE- During Daytime (Business Hours)

Contact your property’s superintendent, or you can call 1-877-464-9675.

NOTE- in the Evening Hours

On weekends or after business hours, you can call 1-866-308-2226 for any emergency.

Instances of Emergency Maintenance:

• Water leak and case of flood in your apartment.
• No heat, water or electricity in your apartment.
• When your bathroom doesn’t unplug.

Service Standards define Housing York maintenance and repair levels and response times:

• Priority repairs (under a week/7 days)
• Emergency repairs (under 24 hours)
• Routine repairs and maintenance (under 28 days)

You can check out the service standard brochure anytime a repair is required on your unit. By doing so, you can get an idea of the duration for which it should be fixed.

Staff Enters Your Home

In normal situations, the staff cannot enter your unit without a prior notice of 24 hours in writing.

In case of emergency:

When there’s an emergency situation, like if lives are threatened or significant damage could be done to the property, the building staff are not required to serve any notice before entering the rental unit.

Not an Emergency:

If you require any repairs in your unit and they are not urgent, then you are required to fill out the ‘Maintenance Request Form.’ This form is a written permission that allows the building staff to enter your unit to fix the required repair. You can find the form in the laundry room, lobby, or office of the building superintendent. When access to your apartment is needed, 24-hour written notice will be given, no matter if you are home and willing to entertain the staff.

Approaching the Building’s Superintendent

• In case of any emergency during the daytime, you can simply call 1-877-464-9675 and if an emergency occurs in the evening hours, then you are supposed to call 1-866-308-2226.
• If there’s not an emergency, then you must fill the Maintenance Request Form and the Building’s Superintendent will respond to your written request as soon as possible.

Yearly Unit Inspections

Building staff will examine your apartment once a year as part of their routine. This inspection helps keep track of the operating condition of heating, plumbing, appliances, safety devices, and the general condition of your apartment.

Safety and Security

Safety is a key measure that tenants look for when hunting for a rental property in the residential rental York housing market. A safe home gives tenants a sense of security, which enhances their rental experience and tenure at the same time. So let’s note down some safety and security points below for a safe life:

Emergency Contact

• Call l 9-1-1 for fire and all medical emergencies. 
• In case you have an emergency regarding the apartment or building, you need to contact the business office during daytime.
• In case the unit or building emergency occurs after business hours, call Emergency Maintenance Service No., 1-866-308-2226.

Smoke Detectors

Each unit of a building has a smoke detector, which gets cleaned and examined once a year. The rules don't allow you to poke the smoke detector. 

It is suggested that tenants replace the smoke detector’s battery twice every 12 months. Moreover, tenants are supposed to contact the building superintendent in case they find a problem with the smoke detector. Usually, there are units located below, above, and close to the service room, along with a gas fired appliance.

Building Security and Safety

It's very important to keep an eye on your safety and security. Your actions to protect your safety and the safety of your fellow tenants will have a great impact on the security of your property.

Below, we have jotted down some key measures that a tenant must be mindful of in order to protect the security of your building:

• It is suggested to keep the hallways clutter-free from things like walkers, wheelchairs, scooters, door mats, and boot trays. This will abet the cleaning staff and emergency workers to prevent tripping hazards.
• Shut and lock the doors of your unit and building at all times. At the time of using the intercom system, make sure to ask the caller to recognise herself or himself so that “uninvited” individuals can’t get access to the property or the unit.
• Do not allow solicitors or salespersons into your unit or building. Make sure that you always ask for the individual’s identity whenever you do not know a person. 
• Do not give spare keys. They can simply be duplicated and end up handled in the wrong hands.
• If someone unknown is trying to enter the unit or a building, do not allow them in. Ask them to utilise the intercom system first to interact with the concerned person so that the particular individual can let them in. 
• If you are going away from your home for a longer period leaving it vacant behind, then you must inform the building office and building superintendent. Moreover, you must inform the newspaper office, post office and every other routine delivery individual for the safety purpose. Make sure to lock all the windows and doors of your house before you make a leave.

Fire Safety

When You Discover a Fire:

• Run away immediately
• Never use elevators
• Do not lock but close the door of the fire area
• Pull the closest fire alarm
• Confirm the detector by calling 9-1-1

For Units in the Building:

When the fire alarm rings-

• Feel the door to know the intensity of the heat.
• Stand backside the door and open it slowly to check the smoke in the corridor.
• If the corridor has no smoke then shut down the apartment door and exit via staircase.
• Do not go via lift.
• If you see fire on the staircase then choose the alternate stairway.

Note: 

• If you discover heavy smoke in the corridor then it's always safe to stay in the apartment.
• Keep the wet towel on the base of the door.
• Remain calm and try to reach out to the balcony and signal your position with the wave of the hands to the rescue team.

For Townhouse Communities:

• Remain calm and Call 9-1-1
• Pre plan your escape route
• Leave the townhouse
• Meet your family and friends in the predetermined area.

Carbon Monoxide Detector

• Every townhouse equips a carbon monoxide detector to warn residents if there is a significant issue with the gas-fired furnace or water heater.
• Carbon monoxide detectors are only present in some units. These are typically apartments that are above, below, or close to a service room that has a gas-fired appliance.
• Please make sure your apartment’s carbon monoxide detector is always properly plugged in, if it has one.

Building Attendant

The building attendant is a tenant who lives on a particular property and is responsible for building safety and reporting maintenance emergencies when the superintendent is off duty. They can be contacted via the After Hours Emergency Maintenance Service number, 1-866-308-2226.

Rights and Responsibilities

It is always important to know your rights and responsibilities to never be at fault or get fooled. Scroll below to learn about landlord and tenant rights in Canada: 

Your Agreement

Please go through your agreement thoroughly. It specifies your responsibilities and rights as a tenant. It prevents you as a tenant and as the landlord. If you have any questions about your agreement, please approach your property manager. 

Smoking

You consented to Housing York smoke-free policy when you signed your lease. As a result, neither you nor your visitors may smoke inside your house or on the patio or balcony.

Smoking is prohibited in all indoor common spaces of the buildings, including corridors, stairwells, lounges, and lifts, for both tenants and guests. Smoking is only permitted five metres away from any windows, doors, or vents in outdoor communal areas. 

The majority of households in Housing York are nonsmokers, and there is considerable support for smoke-free buildings, according to a study of renters. Housing York structures won't be entirely smoke-free, though, for a while. This is due to the lack of no-smoking language in leases that were signed before the smoke-free policy's implementation in 2014. Up until renters who have signed a new lease come in, some residences (including balconies and yards) will continue to allow smoking.

Your Visitors

It is always important to remember that, as a tenant, you are only responsible for your visitors. If you have visitors, it is crucial that you obey the guidelines, rules, and other members of your housing community.

Feedback and Complaints

We value feedback because it helps us provide better service to our tenants. If you have a problem or concern, we want to hear from you and work to address it in a fast and equitable manner. 

Step 1: Make contact with the individual who initiated the request. Typically, the location where the service request was made is where complaints are resolved the quickest and best. Go back to the superintendent for assistance, for instance, if the repairman or superintendent failed to show up when expected. We advise you to get in touch with the employee who sent you the document if you have a problem with something you received from the office.

Step 2: Contact your property manager as a second step. It is preferable to contact your property manager when a problem cannot be resolved with your initial contact. The most knowledgeable person about your building, the residents, and the neighbourhood is your property manager. Their main priorities are a well-managed property and tenant safety. Inform your property manager if there is a problem. 

Step 3: Speak with your operations manager. After contacting the property manager, you can escalate your complaint to management, starting with the manager of operations, if your issue is still unresolved. Please get in touch with the director if the issue is still unresolved. Consult the Housing York notice board in the lobby of your building for the phone number and email of the staff, or dial 1-877-464-9675.

Rent

Paying Your Rent

On the first of every month, you must pay your rent. We strongly advise that you set up a pre-authorized payment plan or send post-dated checks once a year to guarantee that your rent is always paid on time. Your tenancy may be in jeopardy if you regularly pay your rent beyond the due date or fail to pay it at all. Please contact your tenant service coordinator if you would like further details regarding the pre-authorized payment plan.

Different Types of Rent

Within the housing communities of Housing York, two different types of leases are offered: 

1. Market rent, which is comparable to the rentals charged in the private sector, is the complete rental amount charged to tenants. If a tenant pays market rent, they may seek to be added to the waiting list for rent assistance that is geared to their income. The waiting time is typically many years long, and the waiting list is in order of the application date. 
2. Rent Geared-To-Income (RGI) is the term used to describe the rent that is assessed to households based on around 30% of the gross household income. Every year, RGI assistance is reviewed. However, if your household's income changes at any point during the year, you are required by law to notify Housing York of the change within 10 days.

Changes in Your Income and Rent

Annual reviews of market rents determine if they should be raised in response to local rental market demand.

Housing York will notify you in writing 90 days before your rent is increased.

If your income fluctuates, your subsidised rent may change more than once a year. Any changes to your gross household income must be reported. This involves a modification to pay, work status, or pension benefits. After the change, get in touch with your tenant services coordinator within 10 business days. 

Note: 

• Do not hold off on reporting changes in your income until your annual review. If you do have to pay a higher rent, it will be retroactively applied to the day it was supposed to. 
• Your rent subsidy may or may not be in jeopardy if you fail to notify us of changes to your income.

Transfering to Different Apartment

Tenants may need to move to bigger or smaller apartments or to different areas. This is probably a result of health issues or modifications to family size. You can be qualified for a transfer after a year of tenancy in a unit with no rent arrears in the previous six months. This does not apply to tenants who live in overcrowded families and get subsidised rent.

Your transfer request will be evaluated by the Internal Transfer Committee after being filed in writing. If your transfer request is accepted, it will be added to our internal transfer waiting list in chronological order. You can fill out an appeal request form, which is accessible from your property manager, if your transfer request is turned down. Within 10 working days of receiving the notification of decision regarding your transfer request, Housing York must receive your written appeal request. 

Note - Questions regarding possible transfers should be directed to your property manager.

Lodgers and Boarders

You're allowed to have guests or family members stay for the night or just a few hours. However, only the people whose names are on your lease are intended for your home. Under no circumstances are tenants allowed to have boarders or lodgers.

Eviction

Eviction is a last resort. We understand your apartment or townhouse in york is your home, and our aim is to support you in maintaining it. If you encounter difficulties paying rent, please inform us promptly, and our staff will make efforts to assist you. The Residential Tenancies Act outlines various reasons for eviction.

You may be evicted if you: 

• Failure to pay rent
• Repeatedly paying rent late
• Occupying the unit with more people than permitted by health, safety, or housing standards
• Providing false information about income, either your own or that of other family members residing in a rent-geared-to-income unit.

You may be evicted if you or your guests: 

• Causing serious damage to your unit or the building
• Making excessive noise or engaging in behaviour that seriously disturbs other tenants and the landlord
• Threatening the safety of another tenant
• Violating the law on York Region property

You may be evicted if you keep a pet that: 

• Injuring someone
• Failing to pay for repair costs after causing damage
• Creating excessive noise or being a nuisance
• Disrupting the reasonable enjoyment of other tenants (e.g., not cleaning up after your pet)

In a Nutshell

In conclusion, the Tenant Housing Handbook serves as an indispensable resource for renters navigating the complex world of housing. Its comprehensive guidance empowers tenants to understand landlord and tenant rights, responsibilities, and options. By promoting informed decision-making and fostering positive landlord-tenant relationships, this handbook is a valuable tool in creating a more equitable and harmonious rental landscape.