To apply to Hugh Garner Co-op:
To apply to Hugh Garner Co-op you need to fill out an application as well as a Committment To Participate form. You can either come into the office and pick up these forms, or print them here: application form Commitment To Participation. Once you have printed the forms here, fill them out, and send the signed forms along with your Income Verification and application fee of $25.00 (cheque or money order only). Then either mail or hand deliver all the information together to:
- Hugh Garner Housing Co-operative
- 550 Ontario Street
- Toronto, ON M4X 1X3
Once your application has been received, the Co-op will review it to ensure that it is complete and then conduct credit and landlord checks. The Membership Committee will interview all of the adult members of your household and subsequently make a recommendation to the Board of Directors. Once a decision has been made, you will be informed in writing and, if accepted, your name will be placed on the waiting list.
Application Instructions:
Applicant Information ~ Each adult (16 years of age or older) who will be part of your household is an applicant. The reason for listing all applicants is that all adults must become members of the Co-op.
Household Information
~ Specify the size of unit that you prefer as well as your second choice
if you have one.
Occupancy Standards ~ The
number of persons who can live in each unit type is:
- 1 bedroom - minimum 1 person, maximum 2 people
- 2 bedroom - minimum 2 people, maximum 4 people
- 3 bedroom - minimum 3 people, maximum 6 people
- 4 bedroom - minimum 4 people, maximum 8 people
Specify the kind and number of pets you own. No household may have more than two pets, four months or older, of which only one may be an animal that requires exercise outside the unit. The Co-op reserves the right to disallow any pet or variety of pet it deems to be potentially destructive or dangerous.
Accommodation History ~ If you own your present accommodation, please fill out the section on ownership. Include your current estimated monthly housing costs. If you rent your present accommodation, please fill out the section on rental. List the amount you currently pay each month for services not included in your rent, such as parking, utilities, etc.
Household Income ~ Please complete this section for each member of your household who earns an income. Attach an additional sheet if there are more than two income earners. Total the earnings from all sources and specify the combined household income.
Proof of income must accompany each completed application. See below for a description of acceptable proof of income as required by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
If the monthly housing charges are more than 29% of your gross monthly household income you may be eligible for a subsidy. However, all subsidies are presently allocated and there will be an extensive waiting period prior to a subsidy becoming available.
Reference Information ~ The information in this section assists the Membership Committee in assessing you and your household as potential members of the Co-operative. Please fill out this section completely and accurately for yourself and all applicants.
Participation and General Information ~ This information will help the Membership Committee to anticipate the contribution that your household will make to the co-op community.
Please read, and make sure that you understand all of page 6 of the application.
Remember:
- Fill out the application completely, including information for co-applicants and other members of your household where appropriate.
- Include your application fee of $25.00 per household (cheque or money order), and send it with your application to the Co-op.
- Include the necessary income verification.
- Ensure that the application is signed by all applicants.
Regularly Employed ~ submit one of the following:
- confirmation letter from your employer, stating gross wages and hours, and overtime pay this year, or annual salary, or
- three most recent consecutive pay stubs (including employer's name and address, amount and pay periods covered).
* Note: T4 slips or Income Tax returns are not acceptable documentation by themselves.
Social Assistance:
- submit a letter
from your caseworker or the social agency indicating the size of your
family and the amount of benefits received.
*Note: A photocopy of your benefits cheque is not sufficient documentation by itself.
Pension ~ submit either:
- a confirmation letter, or
- copies of your monthly pension cheques or the slips sent to you with the cheques.
Self-employed ~ submit either:
- a letter or financial statement from a chartered accountant indicating (a) the net income from your business; (b) total withdrawals from your business as personal salary in the last year, or
- a statutory declaration, sworn before a notary public, of your earnings in the past twelve months and projected earnings for the next twelve months. This declaration must be accompanied by a copy of your last income tax return.
Casually or Seasonally Employed:
- submit your last income tax return and T4 slips as well as a confirmation letter from your current employer (or copies of your Unemployment Insurance warrant cards) and an estimate of your earnings for the next twelve months.
Unemployed:
- submit copies of your Unemployment Insurance warrant stubs.
- After we receive your completed application form the Co-op will review the information provided and conduct a credit and landlord check. Income verification will be reviewed carefully, Following this, you will be contacted to set a date and time for an interview. You will be interviewed by two members of the Co-op's Membership Committee.
Commitment to Active Participation:
The interviewers will consider your willingness to participate and your potential as a good neighbour. Usually they will recommend acceptance as a future member. However, if one or both interviewers have any doubts about any of the following they are instructed to recommend a second interview.
- Your understanding of what a housing Co-operative is.
- Your willingness to be an active member.
- Your consideration for other members.
Living in a residential housing Co-operative can be fun, interesting and rewarding. There is certainly a sense of security not felt in a rental unit and there is the added advantage of feeling part of a community. However, this does require a commitment of some of your time and energy. This may not be an ideal situation for everyone. While most people have the right to live in a Co-op, it is equally important to know that with that right you will also have responsibilities. You should know that housing co-operatives do not fall under the Landlord and Tenant Act, rather they are governed by the Co-operative Corporations Act.
After you have read and understood the information on Commitment to Active Participation please print out the form, sign it and return it with your completed application form. If there are any parts you would like explained before signing make a note of them on this sheet and return the form unsigned. Your questions will be answered at your interview.
If you have any questions about any of the above information please call the Hugh Garner office during business hours at: 416-927-0407.
