Your home

Before you move in, your home is cleaned, repaired and inspected. It is also sprayed for pests, if needed. Your superintendent will do a move-in inspection with you and note any repairs that you point out.  

The superintendent will go through the types of changes you can and cannot make to your home. You may owe money at the end of your tenancy if you make unauthorized changes or if your unit is damaged. This is called a "chargeback."  

Elevators and deliveries 

Each Toronto Community Housing property is different. 

• If you are moving into an apartment building, speak with your superintendent to reserve an elevator for your move-in day. You can also contact the Client Care Centre at 416-981-5500. An agent will give you a reference number and arrange with your superintendent to put the elevator on service. 
• On the day of your move, you must contact the Client Care Centre two hours before you move to have someone put the elevator on service. 

If you have large items (like furniture) delivered to the building, ask your superintendent about how deliveries are handled. 

Renovating 

Under the terms of your lease, permanent changes are not allowed when decorating. For example, you cannot: 

• Change the flooring.
• Remove doors, cabinets, plumbing, or light fixtures.
• Damage walls with nails or hooks. Use only sticky picture hooks that will not damage walls or paint. 

If you do make permanent changes, you will be charged for the cost of returning your unit to the way it was when you moved in. 

Always ask permission before making changes in your home. You can discuss possible changes with your Tenant Services Coordinator or other staff at your Tenant Service Hub.

Giving notice

When you are planning to move out, you must give notice in writing 60 days (two full calendar months) before you plan to move. Please give your move-out notice to your Tenant Services Coordinator.   

You must sign a form called an N11 (“Agreement to End the Tenancy”) when vacating your unit. If you are removing yourself from your household and other parties are still going to live in the unit, you must sign and date a letter confirming the date you will vacate the unit and give the letter to your Tenant Services Coordinator. The remaining household members may need to sign a new lease with Toronto Community Housing once you are no longer part of the household.  

Returning keys and fobs

Before you leave, you must return all unit keys. This includes mailbox keys, key fobs, parking garage keys, and parking stickers. Give them to your superintendent. If you do not return these items, you may be charged for replacements. 

Final rent payments

You will be charged for rent up to the end of the month that you move out. You are charged rent up to the end of the month that your tenancy ends. For example: 

• If you gave written notice on March 1st, you will pay rent for March and April and will move out just before May 1st. 
• If you gave written notice on February 15th, you will pay rent for February, March, and April and move out just before May 1st.  

Inspection

Toronto Community Housing staff will inspect your unit shortly after you give written notice. They will inspect it again after you move out. Your unit should be in its original condition. You will be charged for any damage to your unit, beyond normal wear and tear. This is called a "chargeback." 

You are responsible for the cost of repairing any damage you caused to the unit. If your unit is dirty or if you leave belongings behind, you will be charged for cleaning or disposing of the items. 

Your unit must be returned to its original condition. For example, if you put up wallpaper, you will have to remove it. If you painted the walls a different colour, you will have to return them to the original colour.

Your unit is your home and we respect this fact. However, there may be times when Toronto Community Housing staff and contractors need to enter. They may need to enter your unit during an emergency, or they may need access to make repairs, inspect your unit, or show it to new tenants if you are moving out. You can ask contractors to show photo ID from Toronto Community Housing before they enter your unit. 

The Residential Tenancies Act requires that we give you at least 24 hours written notice before entering your unit, except if it is an emergency. 

Toronto Community Housing accommodates tenants with physical disabilities through upgrades to units (like installing grab bars, door widening) and improvements to common areas in buildings. In some cases, accommodating tenants with physical disabilities may mean moving them to a more suitable unit. To learn more, visit the Accessibility Program for Tenants section or talk to your Tenant Services Coordinator about completing the necessary paperwork to request accessibility accommodations. 

New window air conditioners are not allowed on Toronto Community Housing property. Portable floor-model air conditioners are allowed if they do not create a safety hazard. Since 2018, TCHC has been using a phased approach to remove all window air conditioners. We have replaced these units with new, energy-efficient, floor-mounted units. If your window air conditioner unit has been removed, you are not allowed to reinstall it. If you install a new window AC unit, you will be required to remove it.

There are still some window AC units that have not yet been exchanged. These units are generally contained over balconies. These window AC units can remain until we replace them over the coming years.

Once every year, your superintendent will inspect your unit to make sure: 

• Your unit’s combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working.
• Window screens are not damaged and window locks are in place and not tampered with.
• There is no excessive clutter, fire hazards or pest issues.
• There are no major repairs needed.

The annual unit inspection is a time when TCHC checks for major repair needs, compliance with municipal licensing standards, and TCHC Accessibility Standards. For example, during the annual unit inspection, staff will make sure there are no unauthorized modifications in the unit. 

Every month, Toronto Community Housing staff test fire alarms and other life safety systems in the common areas of your building.

Toronto Community Housing provides each home with a fridge, stove, and oven. If your appliance needs to be repaired or replaced, call the Client Care Centre at 416-981-5500 or use the online form. Staff will arrange for service during regular business hours.

If your appliance needs repair or replacement after hours or on weekends, Toronto Community Housing staff will come to your unit to assess what is needed. If they cannot repair the appliance, a vendor will be dispatched the next business day.

Many buildings have common laundry rooms that open and close at specific times. Tenants are not permitted to install a washing machine, dryer or dishwasher in their own units. Installing these machines can damage the plumbing in your building, cause floods or loss of water for you or your neighbours, or create other problems.  

If you install appliances or use appliances not provided by Toronto Community Housing, we will remove them and charge you for any repairs or damages. 

Never leave children or pets alone on your balcony.

These items are not allowed on your balcony:

• Carpets as they can damage concrete and wood when wet. 
• Barbecues or electric grills as they are fire hazards.
• Items you are storing. Using your balcony for storage creates a fire hazard.
• Plant containers and pots are not allowed on the top edges of balconies.

Never throw anything off your balcony. You can seriously injure people below or damage property. You can be fined for throwing cigarette butts off your balcony. Cigarettes are the leading cause of balcony fires. They also start fires below on the grass. 

Please use a drying rack to dry clothes on your balcony, not a clothes line. 

If you want to install pigeon netting on your balcony, please contact your Regional Office for more information.

We are making changes to our buildings to help save energy and water. You can do your part. 

To conserve energy and natural gas: 

• Use cold water when doing your laundry. 
• Use a drying rack (not a clothesline) to dry clothes on your balcony instead of using the dryer. 
• Keep windows closed in winter. Contact the Client Care Centre to report windows that do not close properly. If you find it too warm in winter and you have a thermostat, turn it down. If you do not have a thermostat, talk to your superintendent. 
• If you find it too cold in winter, do not use your oven to warm up your home. It wastes electricity and it is unsafe. Talk to your superintendent so we can find the problem and fix it. 
• Do not leave the fridge door open. Do not turn the fridge to a colder setting.
• Turn lights off when you leave a room. 
• When buying electronics, look for Energy Star labels. Electronics with this label use less energy. 
• Turn off TVs, stereos, and computers when they are not being used. We recommend that you use a power bar so you can turn them off with one switch. 

To conserve water, you can: 

• Take shorter showers. 
• Do not leave the water running while brushing your teeth. 
• Always run full loads of laundry in the washing machine. 
• Report leaky taps and toilets to Client Care, and follow up with site staff. 

Visit our Conservation page if you want to learn more about Toronto Community Housing’s conservation efforts.

Rules about waste disposal may vary by property. Please separate your recycling items and your organic waste (food waste) from the garbage. Take your waste to the right chutes or containers in your building, or to the bins outside your building if you do not have chutes. Check the signs at your property or ask your superintendent. 

Please do your share and:

• Tie all garbage in small plastic bags and place them down the garbage chute.  
• Double-bag cat litter and diapers, and place them with the organic waste as appropriate.
• Avoid putting glass, aerosol cans or large items down the garbage chute. Ask your superintendent about where and how to dispose of these items. 
• Ask your superintendent about where to bring furniture or other large bulky items for the garbage. 
• Contact your superintendent if you need to get rid of small appliances or batteries.
• Avoid placing household hazardous waste, like toxic cleaning chemicals, into the garbage. Ask your superintendent about where and how to dispose of these items. 
• Reduce, recycle and reuse, as much as you can.

Building staff monitor the temperature in all buildings. Toronto’s bylaw requires the temperature in apartment buildings to be at least 21 degrees Celsius from September 15 to June 1. We follow this bylaw when we turn the heat on and off.  

There is no maximum temperature bylaw. Toronto Community Housing monitors conditions during periods of extreme heat. If you are concerned about the temperature inside your unit, please call the Client Care Centre at 416-981-5500. 

The Tenant-Led Improvements in Basement Spaces policy permits Toronto Community Housing’s tenants living in townhomes to carry out non-structural renovations to their basement spaces. Learn about the types of improvements that can be carried out. 

Do you have insurance for your belongings? You are responsible, under your lease, for getting insurance for your belongings. This type of insurance is usually called contents insurance or renters’ insurance. 

Toronto Community Housing’s insurance will not pay to replace your property if something like fire, flood or other emergency, damages your home. 

If some or all of your income is from Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program, these programs may cover the cost of contents insurance. Please speak with your case worker to learn more. 

What is covered under renters’ insurance? 

A general renters’ policy will offer contents coverage as well as liability coverage.  

• Content coverage offers you confidence that your personal belongings are covered in the event of a fire, theft or other accidental damage.  
• Liability coverage offers protection for any damage you cause to any part of your building and for unintentional harm caused to others who live in or visit the property.  

What will insurance do? 

Insurance can help you pay to replace your belongings if your home is damaged by flood, fire or any other incident. This includes food that may go bad if there is an extended power outage.

Insurance may help to cover legal costs associated with a claim that you are found responsible for, like a kitchen fire or if your pet bites someone.  

Insurance may also cover the cost of a hotel stay or a replacement unit if you have to leave your home because of damage in a fire, flood, or other emergency. 

What happens when you do not maintain tenant’s insurance? 

If you do not have a tenants’ insurance policy, there will be no coverage for contents. As well, if you are found responsible for causing damage to the property or for causing an injury to another person, you may be responsible for any and all legal costs. This could include potential settlements or court judgment costs.  

Affordable insurance 

Marsh Canada provides insurance designed for tenants who live in social housing. You can get information about rates and coverage from their website or by calling 1-866-940-5111. 

If you have questions about what kind of insurance is right for you, call the Insurance Bureau of Canada at 416-362-9528, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Other insurance claims 

As a property owner, Toronto Community Housing is responsible for making sure its properties are well-maintained and safe, within reasonable standards. This legal responsibility is referred to as a “duty of care” under the Occupier’s Liability Act. 

Toronto Community Housing is not automatically responsible for your damages. Tenants are responsible for purchasing insurance coverage. In the event of a claim, contact your insurer first because your policy will offer you more coverage. 

If you feel you need to file an insurance claim against Toronto Community Housing, please visit the Insurance Claims section for more information. 

Toronto Community Housing will give you keys or fobs for your home. If you live in an apartment building, you will get keys for your mailbox. You may also get fobs for the building’s main entrance and other common spaces.  

If you or someone in your household has a disability, you may also get a remote for your unit and building, and automatic door openers for accessible units.

Talk to your Superintendent if you need extra copies of a key, or if you have lost keys and need to have your locks changed. Please do not change the locks on your own. Adding or changing locks is a violation of your lease. If your lock has to be broken to enter your unit, you will be charged for the repairs. 

In an emergency or after hours, call the Client Care Centre at 416-981-5500. Please know you may be charged for changing a lock, fixing a broken lock, or replacing a door remote.

Please do not give copies of your keys or fobs to people who are not part of your household. This puts everyone’s safety at risk and violates your lease. 

When you move out, simply return your keys to your Superintendent on your last day. 

Important: You will be charged up to $99 to replace locks and $25 for fobs. If you use a remote to access your unit, replacements will cost $75.

(Rates as of December 2022. Charges may increase in the future.)

Cockroaches, mice, and other pests can sometimes get into homes. They are harder to control in places that are cluttered or overcrowded. Like many cities in North America, bed bugs are a problem in Toronto. The only way to control them is to treat the infested units right away. Depending on the pest, your unit may need more than one treatment. We may also treat the units around the affected one.

Report pests to your superintendent right away or call the Client Care Centre. You will receive instructions on how to prepare your unit for treatment. 

There is no charge for pest control treatment, unless you fail to prepare your unit or you refuse to let the contractor in at your appointment time. We will give you instructions on how to prepare your unit for treatment. If you have a disability, you can ask TCHC for help to prepare your unit.

Here are some ways you can help us control pests on your property: 

• Keep your unit clean and clutter-free.  
• Do not feed pigeons, squirrels or stray animals. They can attract other pests. 
• Do not pick up furniture that others have thrown away. It could be infested. 
• Do not put any garbage in hallways or on the floors of chute rooms. Place garbage in the garbage chute and make sure the chute door is fully closed. 
• Larger items that do not fit into the garbage chute must be brought to the bulk garbage area.  
• If you throw out pest-infested furniture or mattresses, wrap them in plastic before taking them out of your home. Never leave these items in the hallway. You can ask your superintendent for plastic mattress covers to safely wrap your items.

 Tenants cannot refuse pest control treatment.

Learn more about pest control prevention tips and how to get in touch.

We know how important your pet is to you and are happy to provide a pet-friendly environment. We follow City of Toronto bylaws limit the number of pets you can have:

• no more than three dogs for each household 

• no more than six of any combination of dogs, cats, ferrets, and rabbits at any time in your home. Service animals are not pets, but they are included in the allowable count of animals in your home.

You are responsible for your pet’s behaviour. You are also responsible for the behaviour of any pet that your visitors bring. This includes excessive noise made by the pet, as well as cleaning up after the pet. 

Please follow these rules: 

• Keep your pet on a leash in common areas. For example, your pet should be on a leash when you leave your unit and when outdoors. 

• Be sure that your pet does not damage property or the belongings of others. 

• Do not allow your pet to be a nuisance or create unreasonable disturbances. 

• Never leave your pet alone on your balcony.  

• Stoop, scoop, and bag your pet’s waste every time.

• Use outdoor garbage bins for waste when walking your pet.

• Never throw cat litter or bird cage linings in the toilet.

• If using the garbage chute, double bag all pet waste. This includes cat litter and bird cage linings.

To find out if you need a license for your pet and for other rules about pets, call the City of Toronto at 416-338-7387 or review the Pet Licensing section of the website. You can also find out from the City 
about other rules for pets.

Complaints about pets 

You may have a complaint about a pet, like a neighbour’s dog that barks all the time or a neighbour who never picks up after their pet. If the complaint is about an issue that is happening inside a unit, 
contact Toronto Community Housing staff. Complaints must be logged with this service. Then Toronto Community Housing staff can follow up with your neighbour about your concerns. 

If the complaint is about an issue in common areas or outdoors, contact Animal Services at 416-338-7297 or animalservices@toronto.ca.  

Phone, cable and internet are not included in your rent. You can choose any company that provides these services in Toronto.  

You can also find out about Rogers’ Connected for Success internet program. It provides high-speed, low-cost internet across Canada to subsidized tenants, seniors and to individuals receiving disability and income support. 

Please make appointments with the phone or cable company during business hours from Monday to Friday. This is so your Superintendent can be there if the technician needs access to a restricted area of the building. 

If you live in a building with an enter-phone system and you find it is not working, tell your superintendent or contact the Client Care Centre. They will check that your phone number is properly registered and able to be connected to the enter-phone system.

Lobby channel feed

Most Toronto Community Housing high-rise buildings have a lobby area with a camera that provides a live feed through residents' televisions. Until recently, residents could access this lobby channel feed without a cable subscription.

This service is not owned by Toronto Community Housing. Over the past few years, both Bell and Rogers have upgraded their technology and that has affected who is able to view the lobby camera through their TV. This change-over in technology is not just in Toronto Community Housing buildings, but in other residential apartment buildings and condominiums throughout the city.

We are working with the cable companies, notably Rogers, to support residents as best as we can. However, we have no control over how the cable companies deliver their services. The lobby channel is completely separate from Toronto Community Housing's network of 6,000 security cameras, which are linked to dedicated and secured recording systems.

What has changed? As of 2022:

• Bell no longer offers this service at all
• Rogers still offers this service in basic packages, but not through Rogers Ignite. If you upgrade your cable package to Rogers Ignite, you will no longer be able to view the lobby channel.

Call the Client Care Centre at 416-981-5500 right away when repairs are needed. If you wait, a problem could become worse. In some cases, if you wait too long, you may be charged for part or all of the cost of the repairs. 

To request a routine repair: 

Call the Client Care Centre at 416-981-5500 or email help@torontohousing.ca. We respond to non-urgent requests for repairs and maintenance within five business days. We will work with you to find a lasting solution. 

Our agents will give you a reference number. Remember to ask for a reference number if you do not get one. Use this number if you need to follow up on your request.

For emergency repairs: 

Call the Client Care Centre at 416-981-5500. A staff person or vendor will be at your home within four hours. We will try to fix the problem right away. If we cannot, we will try to make a temporary repair to stop it from getting worse. 

If the repair is temporary, staff or a vendor will return within five business days to make a permanent repair.
If you have a disability, include this as part of your request. Depending on the issue, we may need to prioritize or respond in a different way.

Please get written permission from your Regional Office before you install a satellite dish. For safety reasons, a recognized professional must do the installation, and you must provide proof that your satellite dish was properly installed. 

If you install a satellite dish without written permission, you will be charged the cost of having it removed and for any needed repairs. 

Please note: if you install a satellite dish, you must have insurance for your home. 

If you smoke in your unit, keep the doors closed so smoke does not travel down the hallway. If you smoke on your balcony, consider checking with neighbours to make sure they are not affected by second-hand smoke. Never throw cigarette butts off the balcony. This is an extreme fire hazard. You can also be fined for doing so. 

Every month, Toronto Housing staff test fire alarms and other life safety systems in the common areas of your building.  

• Your Tenant Services Coordinator will tell you which utilities you have to pay for directly and which ones are included in your rent. 
• If you pay rent-geared-to-income, the amount you pay for utilities will be different depending on the size of your unit. More information about how amounts are calculated can be found in section 51 of the Housing Services Act and the City’s rent-geared-to-income guidelines. 

If you are responsible for paying for electricity, call Toronto Hydro at 416-542-8000 or visit torontohydro.com to set up your account before your move-in date. 

If you are responsible for paying for gas, call Enbridge Gas at 1-888-427-8888 or visit Enbridgegas.com to set up your account before your move-in date.