Developed by the City of Toronto
Social Housing providers must maintain a waiting list for households who have requested, or who are required to make, an internal transfer from their unit to another unit in your building. Your non-profit or co-operative sets its internal transfer policy, and maintains an internal transfer list. This list gives priority to households within your portfolio, with some exceptions
The City of Toronto is empowered through the Housing Services Act to establish rules on when to offer vacant units to internal transfer applicants [see HSA O. Reg. 367, s. 47]. The City’s rule is that housing providers must establish and maintain policies, procedures, and a waiting list for internal transfers. You must give a copy of your internal transfer policy to the City.
Access to Housing maintains the centralized list of households waiting for Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) housing. Housing providers may not maintain their own RGI waiting lists. Market rent households needing RGI subsidy must apply to Access to Housing.
Considerations
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You must establish a policy that includes provisions for a waiting list for internal transfers—for tenants/members who wish to, or are required to,move to another unit in the housing project.
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Be aware of the rules regarding special priority households. The HSA gives priority on the internal transfer list to special priority households, and overhoused households.
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You must place special priority households at the top of the internal transfer list. You may set other priorities on your internal list, for example, underhoused households or households with medical conditions. Your policy may exclude requests for internal transfers. For example, a request to move to a south facing unit could be refused.
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Provide tenants /members with your policy for internal transfers.
Monitor your wait lists on a monthly basis to see how households are being transferred to other units. Ask your staff if the policy is being followed.
