Moving into and around Woodsworth: a guide to bylaws and policies

Updated:  2023-11-02

This only applies to those who are members of Woodsworth and are allowed to move into or relocate in Woodsworth, based on the Occupancy and Membership Bylaws.

Woodsworth has a number of bylaws and policies that outline the unit maintenance responsibilities of the co-operative and the members.  There may be conflicting rules. Bylaws have precedence over policies. The Board can review queries and inconsistencies.

The by-laws and policies tell you what you can expect:

  • when you move into a unit (unit condition),
  • what changes you can make or are responsible for when you are living  here, and
  • how to make improvements including painting,
  • what you are responsible for when you move out of Woodsworth or relocate to a different unit within the co-op. These apply whether you are making an internal move or moving into Woodsworth for the first time.
  • how you apply for a unit or to relocate.
Applying to relocate or request a unit in Woodsworth

There are detailed rules about allocation units and about members’ requests for relocations in the Membership Bylaw #84. For a summary, see Summary of unit allocation rules, based on Membership Bylaw #84

Please note that our external waiting list is closed. We will advertise through CHFT when it opens.

The following refer to the maintenance / physical plant.

Maintenance Bylaw

Section 3. Unit Maintenance:

Painting and wallpapering – see also Wall Covering and Paint Policy and Move-Out By-law #41
– Windows
– Floor coverings – see also Floor Covering Policy
– Appliances

Section 6. Improvements by members

e) Alterations/renovations approved by the Co-op and undertaken by a member remain the permanent property of the Co-op.

(f) Upon termination of Occupancy no compensation will be given for said alteration/renovation.

– and see also Maintenance Renovation By-law #35

Section 7. Move-outs and Move-ins – see also Move-Out By-law #41

(b) Move-Ins

i) On move-in, a unit inspection will be carried out by the Co-op in the presence of the new member. A report on the condition of the unit will be signed by both the new member and the Co-op.

Section 8. Inspections

Move-Out By-law #41

In the Preamble:

  • Members will not be penalized for normal wear and tear.
  • Conversely, the Co-op will make every effort to ensure that units are in reasonably acceptable condition when members move in, but will not guarantee an “as new” condition.

Section 1. Inspections
– 1.5 Any agreements between in-coming and out-going members must be documented in writing and a copy filed with the Co-op office.

Section 2. Floor and wall covering – see also:
Floor Covering policy and Wall Covering & Paint Policy (linked below)

Section 3. Renovations by the member
Sections 4 & 5 – Payment for damages, including partial payment
Section 6. Responsibilities of the co-op (to be charged outgoing member)
Section 7. Expectations of in-coming members (moving in)
The Co-op cannot restore a unit to its original condition, or guarantee a relocating member that their new unit will be in as good condition as the one which they are vacating.
-7.2 and 7.4 major deficiencies

Maintenance Renovation Bylaw  #35

Part A
About permanent approved renovations
–  4. Renovations approved by the Co-op as permanent Renovations and undertaken by a member remain the permanent property of the Co-op unless other arrangements were made at the time of the approval.
– 7. Upon termination of Occupancy, no compensation will be given for any renovation.

Part C: Types of Renovations

1. Permanent Approved Renovations
These renovations become a permanent part of the unit and the property of the Co-op. They will not be restored to previous condition for subsequent in-coming members. However, they must be well done and inspected by staff.

2. Temporary renovations

3. Bonded temporary renovations

Part D:
Specific types of renovations, such as electric, air conditioner, plumbing, dishwashers, removal of fixtures, basements, a list of some previously approved renovations.
– The section on air conditioning for the mid-rise does not reflect the new window installation over the past few years. Please consult Management.

Floor Covering Policy

Rules about wall-to-wall carpeting – installation, who owns it, etc. Approvals needed for changing co-op installed carpeting or tiling.

Wall Covering & Paint Policy

Wallpaper policies including type, moving. Painting including information about ordering paint from the office (paint ordering procedure) and paint order form.

Floor Plans

Please note that individual units may have changed somewhat. Kitchens in some units have been remodelled. For example, some 3-bedroom mews units now have an open plan second floor, not an enclosed kitchen. Floorplans do not reflect these changes.

Occupancy Bylaw

Section 3.5 (e) says that before returning the maintenance deposit, the co-op can deduct any amount which the member owes because the unit was not left in the condition required under the co-op by-laws.

Section 5 Members Units includes maintenance and repair, privacy, damage by fire.

Woodsworth Bylaw Numbers (Bylaw History)

Revised:  October 16, 2024

Bylaw history:

The attached chart has a complete list of all bylaw numbers used in Woodsworth.
It includes:
– numbers that were skipped
– bylaws that have been repealed, and
– amending bylaws.

This list is for administrative use, for assigning numbers for new bylaws, and for capturing the history of Woodsworth’s bylaws.

You can also find a version history listed in some bylaws, usually at the start of the document.

Bylaw numbers are accurate from 1991 onwards. However, they may be rescinded and replaced by newer versions or amended by another bylaw or policy.

Unnumbered bylaws:

Some bylaw amendments were passed without numbers:
Amendment to Organizational By-Law #1 – Feb 27, 1980, June 23, 1980, Jan 23, 1984.
Amendment to Occupancy By-Law #2 – May 31, 1988 (rescinded)
Amendment to Rules By-Law #19 – Apr 23, 1980
Amendment to Membership By-Law #20 – Apr 2, 1981, June 23, 1980
Amendment to Maintenance By-Law #21 – Apr 23, 1980, Sept 14, 1981.

Consolidation:

March 1991: Bylaw numbers prior to 1991 have conflicting information. Some numbers are used more than once. This list includes these anomalies and we have maintained the histories from the 1991 consolidation, in spite of these inconsistencies.

September 30, 2010: all Bylaws were consolidated up to April 2010, making the consolidated Bylaws the approved Bylaws of Woodsworth Housing Co-op. Since then, some bylaws have been repealed and replaced.

Policies

Since 2019, these policies were rescinded:
– Sublet policy (now included in the Occupancy Bylaw)
– Election Eligibility Policy
– Membership Committee Policy (1-94: Internal Waiting List Policy draft)

Repealed 2023
– Confidentiality Policy
– Committee Vacancies and By-election Policy
– Personnel Policy
– Rules of Order (1979)
– Investment Policy

Bylaw history document:

bylaws by number history updated to October 2024

While the website attempts to keep the online versions up-to-date, the definitive versions of current bylaws will be in the GMM minutes and corporate records. 

For a full list of in-effect  bylaws and policies, see https://www.woodsworthcoop.ca/index.php/by-laws/