The Province of Ontario has made changes to the Housing Services Act – which sets the rules around social housing. Those changes will affect tenants.  

OCH Annual Rent Review 

Starting July 1, 2020, you must submit your completed income tax return to OCH as part of your annual rent review. If you do not, you could lose your eligibility for a rent subsidy, and your rent could increase.  

There are benefits to filing your income taxes. You may be eligible for government benefits for this year and previous years.  

One of the changes that may affect tenants is that full-time students’ income will no longer count towards rent calculation. This could mean some households may pay less rent. 

If you have any questions about how that change may affect you, please contact the 24/7 Call Centre as soon as possible at 613-731-1182  to speak with a Housing Administrator. You can also visit www.och-lco.ca/hsa-changes for more information and helpful resources. For a list of free income tax clinics, please call 211. 

Tenants should consult the Canada Revenue Agency website for tax-related information. Ottawa Community Housing is exempt from municipal property taxes. 

The Centralized Waiting List (Registry List) 

Under the new provincial rules, every household on the Social Housing Registry waiting list will only receive one (1) valid offer of a home. This includes applicants with priority status. Previously, households could receive up to three (3) offers. Applicants who refuse their offer will have their application cancelled and their file closed. These changes are in place as of January 1, 2020.  

If you have any questions about how this change may affect you, please contact the Social Housing Registry at 613-526-2088.  For more information, visit www.och-lco.ca/hsa-changes/

Original Publication Date: February 2020