Dec 10th, 2014

Ottawa Community Housing has been granted an Exemption from Municipal and School Property Taxes

Ottawa Community Housing has been granted an Exemption from Municipal and School Property Taxes

(OTTAWA) December 10, 2014 – Today, the City of Ottawa Council has voted in favor of designating Ottawa Community Housing Corporation’s affordable housing portfolio as municipal capital housing facilities. As a result of Council’s decision, approximately 714 OCH properties, consisting of some 15,000 affordable units, will become exempt from Municipal and School Property Taxes as of January 2015.

This modification will result in net savings to OCH of approximately $3M per year, for a minimum of the next 20 years, the term of the agreement. The savings will be transferred to the current Capital Reserves Fund envelope and be used towards maintaining OCH housing portfolio in a state of good repair. The current annual contribution toward repairs is over

$16M. The yearly capital repairs include roofing, asphalt programs, elevator upgrade program, generator replacement, furnace program, domestic HW tank program, balconies, building envelope, foundation repairs, retrofits, just to name a few.

“We commend Mayor Watson and City Council for their continued support and investment in assisting social housing. The innovative thinking guiding the funding strategy benefits not only us, the corporation, but numerous partners and ultimately our tenants.” commented Stéphane Giguère, OCH’s Chief Executive Officer.

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About OCH

Ottawa Community Housing provides affordable rental housing to approximately 32,000 residents. The Corporation is the largest social housing provider in Ottawa, and the second largest in Ontario. It provides almost 15,000 units for seniors, parents, children, singles and persons with special needs in 164 communities.

Media Contact:

Melany Chretien
Acting Manager, Corporate Communications Ottawa Community Housing
Tel: 613-296-2651
Email: melany_chretien@och.ca
www.och-lco.ca