Reference for Housing Providers

The information on this page is to help guide the work of Community Housing providers in the City and County of Peterborough.

Community Housing

“Community Housing” is a new term we use for Social Housing or Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) Housing. The places that run Community Housing are often called Housing Providers. In Peterborough City and County, the largest Housing Provider is Peterborough Housing Corporation. There are 12 other smaller providers that also run RGI Housing.

Community Housing Guide

The Community Housing Guide (“the Guide”) has the information from most of the Community Housing Directives (CHD), see below, but with more detail added. It also has more easily worded items from the Housing Services Act, 2011 (HSA). The HSA is one of the main laws that tells the Housing Providers a lot of the rules that they need to follow. Some of the rules are about the need to track a wait list for people who want RGI housing. This wait list is run by Housing Access Peterborough (HAP), and is often called the  Centralized Wait List (CWL).

There are also chapters about best practices and information that is important to running Community Housing. The Guide is updated often and the newest version is posted online.

If you would like to read the guide, log on to the Social Housing Provider's Portal or contact Housing Services staff at housing@peterborough.ca.

The Guide will be most useful to people who work at the City, the Housing Providers and Housing Access Peterborough (HAP). It is on the website for others who also may find it helpful such as residents, members of the public and other Service Managers.

The first public version of the Guide was released in 2019. It was created with input from Housing Providers and Housing Access Peterborough (HAP) staff at the Service Manager Advisory Resource Team (SMART) meetings. SMART meetings are held regularly and include Housing Provider representatives, HAP staff, and City staff. Other Housing Providers are welcome to join SMART by contacting Housing Services staff at housing@peterborough.ca.

Thank you to cooperating Service Managers who allowed us to use content, ideas and templates from their local guides and policies. This includes Halton Region, City of Ottawa, City of London and especially Durham Region.

Appeals - Peterborough Review Committee

The Peterborough Review Committee (PRC) is a system for reviewing decisions made in Community Housing where the tenant, member or applicant is not in agreement with a decision that was made.

Having a system like this is a requirement under the Housing Services Act , 2011 which is a law that governs Community Housing.

Requesting a review

The first step if you are dissatisfied with a decision is to speak with Housing Access Peterborough (HAP) if you are an applicant, or your Housing Provider if you are a tenant or member. They will review the decision with you first.

If you are still dissatisfied and would like to request a review of your case, an Appeal Form is available through HAP or through your Housing Provider. Completed forms may be submitted for assessment to HAP using the address on the form.

If a hearing is required, you will be contacted with a date, time and location of the hearing.

You must request a review within twenty (20) days of the decision.

• Peterborough Review Committee Appeal Form - Tenant/Member/Applicant
• Peterborough Review Committee Appeal Form - Housing Provider/Housing Access Peterborough (HAP)

What can be reviewed?

• The loss of RGI assistance
• Being ineligible for RGI assistance
• The size and type of unit that you are eligible for or that you have to move to
• Special Priority selection (in any category)
• The amount of rent you have to pay
• Your eligibility for a special needs or modified unit

You may still request a review, even if you are unsure about whether the decision is eligible for review.

Peterborough Review Committee process

After receiving the Appeal Form, the PRC will assess the submission. The decision and the applicable legislation will be reviewed. 

If a decision is made, you will be notified in writing within five (5) days of the review. If a decision cannot be made and a hearing is required, you will be contacted with the date, time and location of the hearing. Participants in the hearing will be the person who made the decision, two neutral housing providers who were not involved in the decision, and a representative from Housing Access Peterborough (HAP). You may also bring a support person to help you feel more comfortable.

The Peterborough Review Committee cannot changes the rules or legislation, but they are able to interpret it in order to make a final decision.

All decisions made by the Peterborough Review Committee are final.