Appendix H

SH notification

social housing

Rent-Geared-to-income Calculations During COVID-19

• Legistation/Regulation
• Operational

May 4, 2020

Retease: 20-05

The purpose of this notification is to provide information to Service Managers and housing providers regarding the treatment of new emergency benefits for rent-geared-to-income calculations during the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as the implementation of simplified regulations beginning July 1, 2020.

The following emergency payments should be considered as income and included for the purposes of rent-geared-to-income calculations: Canada Emergency Response Benefit, Canada Emergency Student Benefit (except where exempted for full-time students under the Housing Services Act, 2011), and the temporary doubling of the Guaranteed Annual Income System payments.

Rent-Geared-to-income Calculations During COVID-19

The Ministry understands the significant challenges arising from the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and the need to ensure the health and safety of tenants and staff members.

In general, the rent-geared-to-income calculation process should continue. However, Service Managers are encouraged to develop internal processes to manage situations related to change of income as a result of emergency financial assistance and use their discretion to provide stability to vulnerable households.

Specifically, Service Managers may have flexibilities and/or powers within the existing framework which allow them to provide stability for vulnerable households impacted by the emergency situation while prioritizing administrative resources. For example:

• While Service Managers are required to conduct annual rent reviews, the rule does not require the review to occur on a specific date within the required 12-month period (Section 52, O. Reg. 298/01).

• While Service Managers are required to review rent in-year if notified of a change tn income, the rule does not require the review to occur by a specific date (Section 53, O. Reg. 298/01). However, a decision to increase rent may be retroactive.

• The period of time that a household has to notify of income changes may be extended beyond the minimum 30-day period of time (Section 28, O. Reg. 367/11).

• Section 51 of the Housing Services Act, 2011 provides Service Managers with the authority to defer or forgive all or part of the rent payable by a household.