Tenant-led Improvements in Basement Spaces Policy
Policy Owner: Facilities Management
Approval: Executive Leadership Team (“ELT”)
First Approved: 04/23/2024
Effective Date: February 10, 2025
Policy statement
Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) has a responsibility to ensure that health and safety requirements are met within our properties, including compliance with the Building Code and Fire Code. TCHC also recognizes the desire for tenants to make the most out of the spaces available to them in their units, including basements which are unfinished and which may be used as additional space for limited household activities. In an effort to create safe, better Basement Spaces that can be used by the household, TCHC will permit tenant led improvements that do not require a building permit to be made to Basement Spaces in alignment with this policy and the related procedures.
Scope
This policy applies to all single-family homes (detached, semi-detached, row houses and townhouses) which have unfinished Basement Spaces and is to be adhered to by all staff.
Values
Respect: We respect our tenants as individuals and will allow them to create environments that are more habitable, comfortable and functional within their rental units.
Accountability: We are accountable for our actions, accept responsibility for our performance and share the results of our work in an open, honest and transparent manner. This policy and the related procedures limit the types of improvements that can be carried out in Basement Spaces, and the activities that can be carried out in Basement Spaces in order to help tenants enjoy their units safely without creating undue risk to TCHC, tenants or others.
Integrity: We perform our duties with the utmost regard to the high standards expected of a corporation established to deliver social housing. We conducted environmental scans with other social housing providers to share best practices prior to creating this policy.
Accessibility for persons with disabilities: We are committed to providing accessible service. This includes meeting our duty to accommodate disabilities under the Human Rights Code, and the standards set out in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (“AODA”). The AODA was considered when establishing which types of alterations would be in or out of scope of this policy.
Standards
Toronto Community Housing staff will refer to this policy whenever a request is made by tenants to conduct improvements to Basement Spaces.
Site staff will communicate to tenants the improvements allowed as outlined in this policy and make tenants aware of the improvements that are not permitted as outlined in this policy and the related procedures.
Definitions
Basement Spaces: basements in TCHC single-family homes which are unfinished and intended, primarily, to house mechanical equipment, laundry facilities and/or storage of limited items.
Tenant Led Improvements: any non-construction, cosmetic changes made by tenants in Basement Spaces as limited by this policy and the related procedures, that can be easily removed/ repainted at the end of the tenancy and that do not require a building permit.
Policy details
TCHC tenants are permitted to pursue the following improvements to Basement Spaces to make them usable as leisure space:
- Painting of existing ceilings or walls;
- Installation of drapes or window coverings;
- Putting down loose flooring/area rugs;
- General decorating; and
- Placement of furniture required to permit virtual learning, work from home or similar activities.
Tenants must return the Basement Spaces to their original condition at the end of their tenancy at their own expense.
At no time are Basement Spaces to be used as bedrooms /sleeping spaces or for cooking.
Any storage and any items that may be combustible (papers, boxes, etc.) must be stored safely and kept away from any electrical panels, furnaces, boilers or other mechanical equipment in Basement Spaces.
Tenants cannot carry out any improvement or renovation to Basement Spaces that would:
- require a building permit;
- breach the Building Code or the Fire Code
- place TCHC in breach of any other legislative, regulatory, or other legal obligations including, but not limited to, a breach of any collective agreement.
Compliance and monitoring
Adherence to the policy will be monitored by Facilities Managers during the course of the tenant-led improvement or upon its completion as required. Once the work has been completed, Basement Spaces improvements will be inspected by Operations staff as part of the tenant’s Annual Unit Inspection or ad-hoc if entry into a unit is required for other business purposes.
Non-adherence to this policy and the related procedures may result in TCHC requiring the tenant to revert the space back to its original state at the tenant’s expense, an application to terminate the tenancy and/or other legal action based on the severity of the breach which shall be determined by TCHC at its sole discretion.
Governing and applicable legislation
Related policies and procedures
- Annual Unit Inspection Process
- Policy on Evictions for Cause
- Tenant Led Improvements Application Process (TBD)
Commencement and review
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Revision |
Date |
Description of changes |
Approval |
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First approval: |
April 23, 2024 |
New |
Executive Level Team (ELT) |
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[Revision #] |
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Last review: |
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Next Scheduled Review Date: February 2027
