Tenants asked. Here are the answers.

It was a pleasure to at last be able to talk directly with “scattered house” tenants at this month’s Information Meetings hosted by the City of Toronto’s Tenants First Team.

The three meetings were a great opportunity to answer tenants’ questions about Circle and what they can expect from a transfer. Here are a few of them.

No sell-offs, no rent increases because of the transfer

Will Circle sell our house?
 No. Circle was formed to preserve scattered houses and keep them affordable forever.  No-one will lose their home as a result of this transfer.

Will our rent increase because of this transfer?

No. If you pay rent-geared-to-income, your rent will be calculated in the same way it is now.  If you are a market rent tenant, your rent will not increase more than the provincial Rent Increase Guideline, set at 0% in 2011 and 1.2% for 2022.

Transfers and over-housing

What counts as over-housed?
The rules for over-housing are set by the Provincial Government and will not change with the transfer of the scattered houses to Circle.

What will happen to my spot on the transfer list?
This is one of a number of issues that still need to be worked out. We look forward to working with TCHC, tenants and the City to create the path that works best for tenants. 

An ambitious maintenance plan

How will you manage repairs?
Circle plans an 11-person team that will enable front-line maintenance staff to really get to know the houses they are responsible for. Tenants will be able to request repairs online, by email or by phone.

Who do we call if we need repairs now?
Until the houses are transferred in 2022, TCHC is your landlord. All requests should go to them.

Tell us more about house inspections.
Over the next six months Circle will inspect all vacant houses and a representative sample of occupied houses. If your house is one of those inspected, you will receive five days’ notice.

The inspections will help Circle set its maintenance budget. There is no relationship between the houses we inspect and which houses will receive repairs first.

Other questions on your mind?

Check Circle’s Q&A page or contact us at circlelandtrust.ca or 416-466-2371.