To Our Future Tenants: An Update on the Transfers

In June of last year, we at Circle were thrilled to announce that we had been chosen by the City of Toronto to take ownership of over 600 units of scattered housing from Toronto Community Housing Corporation. It’s been a flurry of activity for us since that announcement: Circle has been busy inspecting selected homes, hiring staff, and navigating the many legal and logistical details of the transfer. Now, we’re happy to update our future tenants that the ownership of their homes will be transferred to Circle over the next several months. In order to provide better care and attention, the properties will transfer in four separate batches in June, August, September, and October of this year.

Finding out your transfer date
All future Circle tenants will receive a letter in April which indicates the date that your home will transfer. If you believe that your home is being transferred to Circle, but you do not receive a letter by the end of April, or if you are a TCHC Scattered Home tenant and you aren’t sure if your home is being transferred to Circle, please contact us at transfer@circlelandtrust.ca or 437-781-8432 extension 2.

What to expect if your home is transferring
Please be assured, this transfer will not cause any changes to your tenancy. You will continue to pay rent on a rent-geared-to-income basis, if that’s what you pay now. You will continue to pay on a market rent basis, if that is your current arrangement. Your home will continue to be operated by a non-profit housing provider, but as of your transfer date, Circle will be your new landlord. 

We are filled with anticipation and excitement as we prepare to welcome our tenants into the fold. We know that our future tenants have many questions and feelings about the transfers, and want to know what you need to do to prepare. We are here to help guide you in this process.

Six weeks before your transfer date, you will receive a letter from TCHC and Circle that will provide more information on what steps you need to take, including preparing to pay rent to Circle. This letter will also contain an invitation to attend virtual tenant information sessions where Circle will go over this information, and give you a chance to ask questions.

Will my rent be increased?
Any rent increases are a result of regular rent reviews and not a result of this transfer. These increases would be applied whether your landlord was TCHC or Circle.

For RGI Tenants:
If the rent for your unit is geared to your income under the Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) program, your rent will continue to be RGI after the transfer. The RGI program requires landlords to calculate your rent every year based on your income.  If TCHC has already done your rent calculation this year, and you have been served with a Notice of Rent Increase (N2 form), you must pay the rent set out in your N2 when the N2 takes effect (whether that is before or after your transfer date to Circle).  If your RGI rent has not yet been calculated before your home transfers, Circle will calculate your RGI rent based on the same rules TCHC follows, after we take ownership of your home. 

For Market Rent Tenants:
If you pay market rent and TCHC has served you a Notice of Rent Increase (N2 form), you must pay the rent set out in your N2 when the N2 takes effect (whether that is before or after your transfer date to Circle). 

Circle Community Land Trust would like to hear from You
If you’re one of our future tenants, please take a moment to provide Circle with your contact information at this link: https://forms.office.com/r/4W9VzEnrui. Your up-to-date contact information will help ensure better service from Circle. You can also call the Circle office with this information at 437-781-8432 extension 2.

One of Circle’s main goals is to be a responsive landlord that gives tenants more opportunities to have a say over their homes. Circle is putting together a Tenant Advisory Group to advise on policies, and make sure that Circle management knows what issues are most important to tenants. To learn more about this group, or to join, please contact community@circlelandtrust.ca or 437-781-8432 ext 203.

Maintenance Update
Circle’s maintenance team will be working hard during our first year to address as many outstanding maintenance and renovation projects as possible. Tenant patience will be appreciated as the new team gets established.

In preparation for the transfers, if you have questions or concerns for Circle, please contact us at transfer@circlelandtrust.ca or at 437-781-8432 extension 2 . If you have questions or concerns for TCHC, please contact Karen Gomez at karen.gomez@torontohousing.ca or at 416-688-8457.

We look forward to welcoming our new tenants!