Case Stories
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Ms K has rented from the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) for many years. In July 2009, she received two letters from TCHC. Each told her the rent was going up but gave her different amounts. Each had a standard paragraph that said her rent was geared to her income, which was not correct. She was paying a market-based rent. It was confusing.
Ms K sought help for a legal clinic in disputing the rent increase. The amount of rent was settled. However, Ms K still wanted one letter from TCHC that clearly spelled out the amount of rent she was paying and not saying that she was paying rent geared-to-income. Her many attempts to get the letter were unsuccessful.
Ombudsman staff contacted a TCHC manager, who reviewed the letters. One had come from the local office and another from the corporate office. There was no explanation for the differing amounts. The manager agreed that the standard paragraph about rent geared to income did not apply to Ms K.
Result: The TCHC agreed to send Ms K a letter with the correct information and a clear explanation.
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