Looking For Housing in Peterborough City & County (continued)
Is it affordable? |
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The
table at left shows the average cost for different sized apartments in Peterborough in May 2008. Housing costs may be higher than these averages since many places do not include utilities in the rent.
According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), housing is affordable if a household pays 30 per cent or less of their gross income on shelter costs.
According to the CMHC recommendations, a person making $8/hour working 40 hours per week earns $1,280 gross income and can afford to pay $384/month in rent. A person must earn over $2300 gross each month to afford a one-bedroom in Peterborough.
If you are receiving social assistance (Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program), you are entitled to the following maximum shelter allowances: 
If your housing costs are more than your shelter allowance, you will have to use part of your basic allowance to pay those costs. If your housing costs are less than the maximum shelter allowance, you will only receive the amount you need for your rent and utilities.
Over half of all tenants in Peterborough pay more than 30% of their income for rent and utilities. Many people working for lower wages or living on social assistance pay over 50% of their income.
If you are on a fixed or lower income, you may not be able to find housing that is truly affordable unless you are able to move into rent-geared-to-income (subsidized) housing. Go to our Affordable Housing page to see the options available and make an application to Housing Access Peterborough or one of the other affordable housing providers.
In the meantime, know how much you can spend when you are looking for market rentals. Download the budget sheet and use it to figure out your total income from all sources and your expenses for needs other than housing. Look at your net (take-home) income and figure out how much you can afford to pay for housing.
When you are looking for a place, find out the total housing costs before deciding to take it. Ask the landlord if there are parking or other fees on top of the rent, and call the utility companies to check on the average cost per month. For a list of local utility companies, go to Local Services.
One way to cut costs is to rent a room or share an apartment. However, your rights may change depending on the situation (e.g. if you are sharing a kitchen or bathroom with your landlord or a member of the landlord's family). If you plan to rent a room or share an apartment, look at CLEO's Sharing Rental Housing. This web tool helps you figure out which laws apply to your situation and what your rights and responsibilities are.
If your income is low, you may find that you don't have enough income to cover all your expenses after you pay for your housing. No matter how well you budget, if the income isn't there to cover the basics you may run into trouble. You will find information on Emergency Assistance on this page, and the Local Services section has information about food programs and food banks, and places for used clothing and furniture. You can also find contacts for local organizations that are advocating for affordable housing and an end to poverty.
Is it suitable and in good shape? |
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Do a careful walk-through of the apartment or house when you go to see it. Check for any signs of damage or needed repairs and make notes. Here's a list of things to look for:
- Do the walls and ceilings have cracks or signs of water damage?
- Do all doors and windows close tightly to avoid drafts in winter, and open easily for ventilation?
- Do all taps, sinks, tub and shower have good water pressure and drain well?
- Do any rooms (and basement if included) show signs of mildew or mould?
- Are there enough working electrical outlets in each room, and are there any three-prong outlets?
- Is there adequate indoor and outdoor lighting?
- Do all appliances work?
- Are there any signs of bugs or pests?
- Are there enough smoke detectors and fire exits?
- Do the unit, building and neighbourhood feel safe and secure?
If the place needs repairs, ask the landlord about them before you agree to rent. Ask if the landlord will agree to include those repairs in the lease, or sign a list of repairs that need to be completed.
Before renting, talk to other tenants in the apartment or building if possible.
You can also print off our Housing Search Checklist to help you compare places during your search.
Discrimination |
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Landlords cannot refuse to rent to you based on the following reasons:
- Race, colour, ethnic background or birthplace
- Religion
- Age
- Sex
- Disability
- Marital status
- Sexual orientation
- Having children or being pregnant
- Being on social assistance
If you think you have been discriminated against when looking for housing, contact the Ontario Human Rights Commission to make a complaint. You can also contact the Peterborough Community Legal Centre or the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation for legal advice about discrimination.
Contact the Peterborough Community Legal Centre, or go to CLEO or ACTO for more information on tenants’ rights and responsibilities.
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