Woodsworth has long had bylaws that allowed previous members to request to return to Woodsworth. Usually, some change in the former member’s circumstances prompted the move out – such as job change or family responsibilities.
The Membership Bylaw: Member Approval and Unit Allocation bylaw has the full details in Article 2.3.5. Returning members applying as internal applicants.
Eligibility for membership
- Returning members can apply using the internal process by contacting the co-op and attending an internal information session.
- The candidate must not have left owing money to Woodsworth, nor were evicted, nor left after a notice to appear, nor in situations of domestic violence.
- They must have resided in the co-op as members for at least two (2) years. Any time as long-term guest does not count.
- Prior to the Information Session, contact the Membership Committee or Management to discuss proofs of previous membership and residency in Woodsworth.
- Resident non-members (e.g. long-term guests) cannot apply as a returning member. They must wait until the external waiting list is reopened.
Process for becoming a member again
Only former members may apply for membership through this process. If the candidate has others in their household who do not qualify as returning members, the new member must apply for long-term guest status for them. This applies to anyone aged 16 and over.
Those who qualify as a returning member must attend an information session, fill in an application, and be interviewed by the Membership Committee. Management will do a credit check, a landlord check and income verification. The Board will consider their application and make the decision.
After approval by the Board, the returning member must request a unit through the internal relocation process.
Former resident non-members such as former long-term guests can only apply as an external applicant when the external waiting list is open.
Joining the Internal Waiting List
There is no waiting period before the approved Returning Member can be added to the bottom of the waiting list by Management.
Members may only request units that they qualify for based on the occupancy standards.
Any adult household member who has not been approved as a member should apply for long-term guest status. Children and long-term guests count towards household size for the occupancy standards.
The date that the co-operative receives their completed Request for Internal Relocation form is their record date for the purposes of the waiting list.
To make things easier:
Find documentation that you lived in Woodsworth, such as your Occupancy Agreement, correspondence about move-out, other proof that you lived in Woodsworth as a member for two years or more. The co-op will require proof that you lived here.
About moving into Woodsworth:
Woodsworth has a long external and internal waiting list. As a returning member, after approval by the Board, you would join the internal waiting list. A caution though: a successful applicant will still have a long wait.
Woodsworth has also made some changes to how units are allocated.
See Member Approval and Unit Allocation Bylaw, Article 4. Allocating units by waiting lists. One big change is that the co-op alternates between internal and external waiting lists when filling units.
See also the details in Article 5. Internal waiting list for unit allocation which discusses skipping you if the unit does not meet the particular criteria you have chosen to put on your relocation request.
And unit size depends on occupancy standards. This is in the Member Approval and Unit Allocation Bylaw as well as the Occupancy Bylaw, Article 9.3.