Membership Bylaw, Schedule B, Summary of Time Requirements for membership and unit allocation

Woodsworth Membership Bylaw #84: Schedule B, Summary of Time Requirements

Schedule B details the time requirements in the membership bylaw, including:
– restrictions and waiting periods for some new members can join the waiting lists for relocation
– expiry date for membership application forms after an information session
– timelines for Management and those on waiting lists when accepting or refusing unit offers, including priority moves
– move-in dates for internal and external waiting list members after accepting a unit
These were approved by members when they approved the Membership Bylaw. 

1,4. Summary of Time Requirements

Schedule B at the end of this Bylaw is a summary of the time requirements for some actions by the co-operative or by applicants as required under this Bylaw and the Co-operative Corporations Act. In case of conflict the Co-operative Corporations Act and the Bylaw will govern over Schedule B.

Schedule B: Summary of Time Requirements
In case of conflict the Co-operative Corporations Act, the Occupancy and Organizational and this Bylaw will govern over this schedule.

2.3.2. Internal applicants 

Internal applicants include residents approved by Woodsworth as long-term guests, children living in a member’s unit who will use the “turning sixteen” process, and returning members who wish to join Woodsworth again and move into their own unit.

Long-term guests (who become members):

2.3.3 (h) A resident who has become a member by living with existing member(s) must wait two (2) years from the date of becoming a member to take sole responsibility for that unit or to apply to relocate independently of that member.

Those already on the internal waiting list prior to confirmation of this bylaw by members on Sept 26, 2023 who joined the waiting list with a one year wait time are exempt from the new time period.

2.3.3 (i) They cannot join the internal waiting list until the required waiting period of two years has elapsed. Any period of time before Board approval as member is not included in the two years. However, they may be eligible to move with the rest of the household.

2.3.3 (j). They cannot inherit a unit alone until they have lived with the household for two (2)  years. Exception:  Occupancy Bylaw, Article 10.4 Death of a member.

2.3.4  (h-i) “Turning Sixteen’s” living with members (who become members):

A resident who has become a member by living with existing member(s) must wait two (2) years from the date of becoming a member to take sole responsibility for that unit or to apply to relocate independently of that member.

They cannot join the internal waiting list until the required waiting period of two (2) years has elapsed. Any period of time before Board approval as member is not included in the two years.

Those already on the internal waiting list prior to confirmation of this bylaw by members on Sept 26, 2023 who joined the waiting list with a one year wait time are exempt from the new time period.

2.3.5 Returning members:  

The applicant(s) must have resided in the co-op as a member for two (2) years.

Application forms:

2.4  Internal and external applicants: Applicants must have attended an information session within three (3) months of submitting an application for membership.

Refused membership and appeals about membership:

3.2  Refused membership: Notice in writing within ten (10) business days of the date of the Board meeting.

3.3  Appeal of membership refusals:  Notice of appeal must be received at the co-operative office within twenty (20) business days.

The co-operative will notify the applicant in writing of the Board’s decision within ten (10) business days of the Board meeting at which the decision was made.

3.5 Record of refusals – The co-operative will maintain a written record of refusals for a period of at least seven  (7) years after the day the letter was given to the applicant.

Internal unit offers

Minimum Period of Residence for internal waiting list

5.1.2 (a)  Joining the internal waiting list: Must be a member resident for a minimum of two (2) years immediately prior to submitting an application to transfer. Article 5.1.2 (a) Minimum period of residence

Restrictions on joining the internal waiting list – long-term guests and turning 16s 

5.1.2. (b). There is a wait time of two years after becoming a member before being able to join the internal waiting list. This applies to long-term guests who applied for membership and for those using the Turning Sixteen (16) process. See Articles 2.3.3  and 2.3.4.

Restrictions on joining the internal waiting list – arrears

5.1.2  (c) A household in arrears cannot be on the internal waiting list except a rent-geared-to-income household that is required to move due to government requirements

If member cannot be contacted considered a refusal 

5.5.1  If the co-operative is unable to contact the member next in line on the internal waiting list within three (3) business days, the unit will be offered to the next eligible member on the internal waiting list.  It is considered a refusal.

Notification of Acceptance of a unit by applicant:

5.5.2 Households on the internal waiting list that have been offered a unit for which they are eligible, must notify the co-operative within three (3) business days whether they wish to accept the unit.  If they fail to do so, they will be considered to have refused the unit.

Refusal of a unit (internal waiting list):

5.5.3. Households that are not required to move that have requested a transfer, may refuse up to two (2) units that have been offered and retain their position on the internal waiting list. After the third refusal, the household is moved to the bottom of all waiting lists.

Refusal of a unit if required to move

5.5.4 Households required to move are allowed three (3) refusals only.
See Housing Charge Subsidy Bylaw, Article 2.6. Procedures for over-housing and Occupancy Bylaw, Article 9.4 (d) Three offers

Refusals (priority status waiting list)

5.5.5 Households that have been given special priority status for an internal move as defined in Article 5.2 1 (Priority Internal Waiting List) will be offered three (3) opportunities to accept a unit based on their Accommodation Plan. After three refusals, the household will be removed from the priority waiting list. The member can apply for the internal waiting list.

Moving date when relocating (internal)

5.5.7 Once a member on the internal waiting list has accepted a unit, the member must vacate their unit and move into the new unit on the date specified when the unit was offered.

Members will be provided with at least thirty (30) days notice for an internal relocation.

External moves – see 6.2.8 Moving into Woodsworth: taking occupancy

External unit offers

Offers to applicants on the external waiting list

6.2 (a) Time limit

A household offered a unit will be given three (3) business days to decide whether to accept the unit and sign the Occupancy Agreement.

6.2 (b) Missed time limit considered refusal

If the household does not within three (3) business days, inform the co-operative office that it accepts the unit and signs the Occupancy Agreement, it will be considered to have refused the unit.

If an external applicant cannot be contacted

6.2.4 If the co-operative is unable to contact the household with top placement on the external waiting list within three (3) business days, the unit will be offered to the next eligible household. The first household will be skipped over but will retain its rank on the waiting list.

Refusal of units (external)

6.2.5 Households may refuse up to three units that have been offered and retain their position on the external waiting list. If they refuse three units that meet their stated criteria, they will be moved to the bottom of the waiting list.

No matter how many unit types or sizes or criteria the applicant indicates on their application form, the number of allowed refusals does not change. Management will keep a record of refusals.

Moving into Woodsworth: taking occupancy

6.2.8 If a household on the external waiting list accepts a unit that has been offered to them, they will not be required to take occupancy and commence payment of the housing charges until the first day of the third month following the offer.  If the unit is vacant earlier, the household must make all reasonable efforts to move in and commence paying the housing charges earlier, if it can be done without financial loss to them.

For internal moves, see 5.5.7  Moving date when relocating

7. Appeals of waiting list decisions

7.2 Appeals for the waiting list

The applicant will receive ten (10) days’ notice in writing of the consideration of the appeal by the Board of Directors.

The co-operative will notify the applicant in writing of the Board’s decision within ten (10) business days of the Board meeting at which the decision was made.