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The Social Housing Reform Act made some major changes that could affect your rent-geared-to-income (RGI) subsidy. This subsidy is the dollar amount that keeps your rent affordable. Without this subsidy, your rent would increase to market rent. Please read the following rules carefully - they can mean the difference between continuing with subsidized rent and paying market rent.
Annual Household Composition, Income, Assets Review (Annual Review)
Once a year, the Housing Corporation reviews your household composition, income and assets to ensure you continue to qualify for an RGI subsidy and to recalculate your rent. You are responsible for returning this information to the Housing Corporation within 30 days of your annual review date. You must include verification and documentation of all sources of income for everyone 16 years of age or older. .(Household Composition Income and Asset Review
Form) If you do not return this documentation to the Housing Corporation within the 30 day period, you will lose your RGI subsidy and your rent will be raised to market rent with 90 days written notice. You would be in danger of losing your unit if you could not afford the market rent and fell behind in your rent payments. If you lose your RGI subsidy, you must make a new application for RGI assistance and become part of the applicant waitlist again.
Change in Income or Household Composition
If your income changes; or if someone moves in or out of your unit, you must report that change in writing within
30 days to the Housing Corporation.
Failure to notify the Housing Corporation of a change in income or household composition will result in the loss of your RGI subsidy.
Misrepresentation of Income
You are required to provide verification of all income to the Housing Corporation. Misrepresentation of Income is a serious offence. You may be subject to criminal charges, with penalties of up to $5,000 and six months in jail. You may also be evicted and disqualified from receiving an RGI subsidy for a minimum of two years.
New Lease
You will be required to sign a new tenant lease when you have your next annual review. Everyone 16 years of age and older will have to sign this new lease. The Housing Corporation will contact you when your new lease is ready for signing.
Appealing Decisions
If a decision is made regarding your subsidy, rent or eligibility; and you do not agree with that decision, you can appeal it. You must make an request for internal review in writing within 10 business days of receiving a notice of decision.
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