Frequently Asked Questions - Community Housing

What is community housing? 

Community housing, also called Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) housing or social housing, provides subsidized, low-cost housing for households with low-to-moderate incomes. Rent is usually based on 30% of the household's gross monthly income.  

Community housing is available through London Middlesex Community Housing, certain co-operative and non-profit housing providers and some privately owned buildings.

What is the difference between subsidized housing and affordable housing? 

Community housing, also referred to as Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) housing, subsidized housing and social housing, is when your rent is determined by your income. Generally, the rent is based on 30% of your household gross monthly income.  

Affordable housing developments receive funding from the City of London to offer some units at below-market rents. These units may be available to the public at low-end-of-market rental rates. To apply, contact the property manager for the building directly. The Housing Access Centre does not maintain a waitlist for affordable housing units.

How much rent can I expect to pay? 

Community housing rent is based on approximately 30% of your household gross monthly income. Additional charges may apply depending on whether utilities are included. If you are receiving assistance from Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program, your rent is based on a pre-determined rent scale.

How do I apply for community housing?

Applying involves six steps:

1. Review the eligibility requirements.
2. Complete the application and building selection form.
3. Gather supporting documents.
4. Submit your application.
5. Receive a letter confirming whether you are eligible. If your application package is not accepted, you will receive a letter explaining the reason(s) why. If your application is incomplete, it will be returned to you with an explanation of what is missing.
6. Wait for a housing offer.

Who is eligible for community housing? 

To be eligible for community housing:

• You must be 16 years of age or older and be able to live independently
• Each household member must have eligible status in Canada, such as Canadian citizen, permanent resident, refugee or refugee claimant
• No household member can be subject to a deportation order, departure order or exclusion order under Immigration Act
• No household member can owe rent or damage arrears to an Ontario community housing provider, unless a repayment agreement is in place and being maintained
• Your household income must be below the household income limits for our community

What identification do I need to apply?

You must provide identification confirming the Canadian status of everyone included in your application. Driver’s licences, Ontario Photo Cards and health cards are not accepted for this purpose.

View the full list of accepted forms of identification

What proof of income and assets do I need to provide?

You must provide proof of all household income and assets with your application. Review the complete list of accepted documents before submitting your application.

Proof of income and assets to apply for Community Housing

Why was my application returned as incomplete?

The Housing Access Centre only processes complete applications. If information or documents are missing, your entire application will be returned with a checklist showing what you need to provide.

Complete the application, include the missing documents and submit it again. Your eligibility will be reviewed after the completed application is received.

What are the household income limits for community housing in London? 

Household Income Limits are established by the Province of Ontario and determine whether a household qualifies for community housing. These limits are outlined in detail in the Housing Services Act, 2011. 

Household Income Limits in London and Middlesex

What bedroom size am I eligible for? 

The number of bedrooms you are eligible for depends on the size and composition of your household. Generally, one bedroom is provided for a couple and one additional bedroom for each other household member.

Additional bedrooms may be approved in certain circumstances, including for medical equipment, shared custody of a child or a part-time caregiver. Supporting documents may be required.

What does “RS” mean on the building selection form?

"RS" means Rent Supplement Program. These units are located in privately owned buildings. You pay your rent-geared-to-income portion to the landlord, and the City of London pays the remaining approved amount to the landlord.

Can I apply if I do not have an income?

No. Individuals who are 16 years or older who apply for community housing must be in receipt of income to qualify for community housing. You will be asked to apply for Ontario Works social assistance if you do not qualify for any other source of income.

Can I apply for community housing if I own a home? 

Yes, you may be eligible for community housing if you own a home, however you must agree to sell your home or property within six months of moving into a community housing unit. A Divestment Form must be signed and included with your application.

Can I apply for community housing if I do not live in London? 

Yes. You can apply for community housing in the City of London while living outside the city. If you want to apply for community housing in another municipality, contact the local community housing agency in that city/town. Housing applications cannot be transferred between municipalities.

How long will I wait for community housing?

There is a high demand for community housing in London and Middlesex County. Most applicants wait several years for housing to become available, and some households may wait longer than 10 years. How long you wait depends on several factors, including your application date, the buildings and unit sizes you select, your household composition and how often units become available. 

Because these factors can change, City of London staff cannot predict how long you will wait for housing. Staff are not able to provide a more specific wait time if you call or ask about your application.

Why might I be ineligible for community housing?

As per the Housing Services Act, 2011, you may not be eligible if:

• Your household income is above the applicable limit as per O. Reg 298/01 S. 8.
• A household member does not have eligible Canadian status. 
• A household member owes rent or damage arrears to a community housing provider and does not have an active repayment agreement.

Can I qualify if I owe money to a community housing provider?

You may remain eligible if you have entered into a repayment agreement with the housing provider and continue making the required payments.

A housing provider can refuse to offer a community housing unit if they have reasonable grounds to believe, based on the incoming household’s rental history, that the household may fail to fulfil its obligations to pay rent.  A housing provider may use outstanding rental arrears as evidence to suggest that the same household could fail their rent obligations in the future if they are offered another unit.

Can a housing provider decide not to offer me a unit?

In certain circumstances, a housing provider may decide not to offer a unit. This may happen if:

• Your household does not meet the building’s mandate, such as the age requirement for seniors’ housing.
• The provider has reasonable grounds to believe your household may not pay the rent. For example, the household has previous history of not paying rent to another community housing provider and has outstanding arrears.
• You cannot meet the participation requirements of a housing cooperative.  For example, the household member has many medical issues preventing them from contributing.
• The unit involves shared accommodation and the provider believes the arrangement would not be suitable for the household. For example, the household is not a good fit with others in the shared living arrangement.
• Within the past 5 years, a member of the household has had their previous community housing tenancy terminated due to a serious offence and the provider has reasonable grounds to believe that the household would pose a risk to the safety of one or more at the housing project.

These decisions must follow the Housing Services Act, 2011 and its regulations.

Can survivors of domestic violence receive priority?

Yes, if you have left an abusive relationship in the past 3 months or are still living with the abuser, you might be eligible for Special Priority Status.

Request for Special Priority Form

Can survivors of human trafficking receive priority?

Yes, if you have left a human trafficking situation in the past 3 months or are still experiencing human trafficking, you might be eligible for Special Priority Status-Human Trafficking.

Request for special priority (human trafficking) form

What should I do if I cannot open or print a Special Priority Status form?

These forms are available in PDF format. If you're unable to open or print them, make sure you have the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader installed. You can download it for free from Adobe.

Download Adobe Acrobat Reader

How do I report a change to my application?

Tell the Housing Access Centre as soon as possible if your contact information, income or household composition changes. Keeping your information current helps housing providers reach you if a unit becomes available.

How do I keep my application active?

An annual update will be mailed to you every two years to request updated information. We require this information for you to remain eligible on the waitlist.

Can I ask for a review of a Housing Access Centre decision?

You can request an internal review of certain decisions, including decisions about:

• Eligibility for community housing
• The size of unit you are eligible for
• Your priority category
• The amount of rent you must pay
• Eligibility for special needs housing

If you disagree with a decision, you are required to complete a "Request for Internal Review" form within 10 business days of receiving the decision. The review will be completed within 10 business days, and you will receive the outcome in writing.

How will I be contacted about an offer?

The housing providers will contact you directly by phone when you reach the top of the waitlist for one of the buildings you have selected. It is important to maintain contact with the Housing Access Centre to keep your application up-to-date with current contact information so that providers are able to reach you in a timely manner.

What happens if I cannot be reached? 

The housing provider will try to contact you and may leave a message. You have 48 hours to respond. If you cannot be reached within 48 hours, the provider will contact the next person on the list. 

What happens if I do not respond to or do not accept a housing offer?

As a result of changes to the Housing Services Act, 2011 O. Reg 367/11 under Section 32.2 and 38, effective January 1, 2021, applicants will only receive one offer of community housing. 

If you do not accept this offer, you will be removed from the centralized community housing waitlist. This rule applies to all applicants on the centralized community housing waitlist.  It is critical that you keep your contact information and Building Selection form updated.  Please review your options carefully and select only buildings and communities that you wish to live in. You may update your building selections at any time.

What does “overhoused” mean?

If you are living in a unit that is too large for your household, as per the local occupancy standards, your household will be considered 'over-housed.' Your provider will notify you in writing if you are considered over-housed. After 12 months from the date you were notified that you were over-housed, you will be required to re-apply to the waitlist and select a minimum of five housing preferences, not including your current housing location. Every year that you continue to be over-housed, you will be required to select five more building selections, up to a maximum of 20 building selections.

Can I move to another community housing property?

If you would like to move from your current community housing unit, you may ask for an internal transfer directly through your housing provider. If you would like to move outside of your housing provider’s portfolio, you must re-apply through the Housing Access Centre and you will be placed on the waiting list based on a new application date. It is important to note that due to overwhelming demand for community housing, transfers within the system can take many years.

Can I be away from my community housing unit for more than 90 days?

You must let your housing provider know if you intend to be away from your community housing unit for any extended amount of time. There are exceptions that may be made. If you do not provide notice to your provider and are away for 90 days, you may lose eligibility for community housing.

I need housing immediately. What should I do?

Community housing is not emergency housing, but Housing Access Centre staff can refer you to community resources to assist in your housing search while you wait for community housing.

If you are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness, contact Coordinated Access at 519-661-4663. Coordinated Access staff can connect you with emergency shelter, financial supports and other housing resources.

Where can I get help with a landlord or tenant issue?

The Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) has a phone line where you can get general information about the Residential Tenancies Act, tenant’s rights and the LTB process. You may contact them toll-free at 1-888-332-3234.