This explainer is for people who do not live in Woodsworth but wish to get an apartment or townhouse in the co-operative.
There are two steps to moving into a unit in Woodsworth Housing Co-op.
– First, you must apply for membership. However the external route to membership is only open when there is a reasonable path to residency. See Vacancies
– Once your application is approved by the Board of Directors, you will join the external waiting list, as housing units are offered through the waiting lists.
If you already live with a Woodsworth member—such as a long-term guest, resident teen, or returning member — you would follow the similar internal membership process. See Membership guide
Membership process:
To be placed on the external waiting list, external applicants must first attend an information session. These sessions are held infrequently and only when the external waiting list is open.
At this time, we do not anticipate opening the external waiting list in the near future, as it is currently full.
When an information session is scheduled and the external waiting list opens, Woodsworth will:
– Announce it to members through the Weekly Newsletter so they can
– inform family and friends
– Publish the notice on the Woodsworth website
– Ask the Co-op Housing Federation of Toronto to post the information on its website
Membership approval
All new members moving into the co-op must complete the membership process outlined in Member Approval and Unit Allocation Bylaw #84. This includes:
– Attending an information session
– Being interviewed by the Membership Committee
– Receiving final approval from the Board of Directors
Membership criteria:
See Criteria
About Woodsworth’s housing stock
Woodsworth has apartments in the mid-rise building at 133 Wilton Street, townhouses on George Street South, Albert Franck Place, and Frederick Street. There are also street access units on Wilton Street. Only the 1-bedroom units in the mid-rise building are stair-free accessible units. Woodsworth also has three (3) wheelchair-adapted units.
Unit allocation and waiting lists
Housing units are offered through waiting lists. External applicants are offered units based on their position on the External Waiting List. Woodsworth staff are responsible for managing waiting lists, offering units, and coordinating move-ins.
When applying for membership, external applicants indicate their requested unit size and type on the membership application form. Management transfers these requests to the appropriate external waiting lists after approval by the Board of Directors.
Occupancy standards
Applicants will only be offered units for which they qualify under the Occupancy Bylaw.
Specifically, Article 9.3(a) sets out the minimum number of occupants required for each unit size.
Applicants will only be offered a unit that they qualify for based on the Occupancy Bylaw’s occupancy standards:
Occupancy Bylaw, Article 9.3 (a) describes the minimum number of persons for each of the co-op’s unit sizes.
|
Unit size |
Minimum people |
Exceptions |
| 1 bedroom | Minimum – 1 occupant | None |
| 2 bedroom | Minimum – 1 occupant in mid-rise and Wilton Street only | 2 occupants required for 2-bedroom townhouses. |
| 3 bedroom | Minimum – 3 occupants | None |
| 4 bedroom | Minimum – 4 occupants | None |
The number of persons does not include short-term guests or visitors.
The number of persons does includes babies and children.
The Ontario Family Law Act determines whether a child is considered the member’s child for the purposes of housing in Woodsworth.
There is no maximum number of people except as set by the City of Toronto bylaws.
Your household
If your household composition has changed since your Board approval, you must notify Management.
Any new co-residents over the age of 16 must apply for long-term guest status. Management will assist with this process; however, Board approval is required. Approved long-term guests may attend the next annual internal membership information session. Note that those who become members in your unit have equal rights and responsibilities as you. (Membership Bylaw, Article 2.3.3 (c) Long-term guests applying for membership)
There are rules about pets and number of pets. See Rules Bylaw, Article III.
Unit offers and acceptance
Management is responsible for issuing unit offers and coordinating all tasks related to moving into Woodsworth. All members are required to sign an Occupancy Agreement for their unit.
Woodsworth’s members have approved a bylaw which includes alternating between internal and external waiting lists. While there will likely be a long wait to be offered a unit, it should speed up the process. For more information see
Alternating between internal and external waiting lists
Timelines, offers, refusals and contact rules
There are timelines for replying to unit offers from Management and to move-in dates.
Co-op tries to reach you within 3 business days.
You have 3 business days to respond.
No response is counted as a refusal.
After three (3) refusals you are bumped to the bottom of the list – for more information, see #9 on this summary of the rules: https://www.woodsworthcoop.ca/index.php/unit-allocation-procedures/
Refusal count does not depend on how many preferences or size units you’ve listed.
One refusal is counted per offer that meets your criteria, not per type of unit.
Limiters (Special Requests)
Applicants may specify preferences such as unit location or other features. However, if an available unit does not match these preferences, the household will be skipped and not offered the unit. This is not considered a refusal under Article 4(h) of the Member Approval and Unit Allocation Bylaw.
Please note that adding special requests or limiters may delay the time it takes to be offered a unit.
Changes to unit requests
Applicants may change their requested unit size, unit type, or location preferences at any time without affecting their position on the waiting list, in accordance with the Membership: Membership Bylaw: Member Approval and Unit Allocation, Article 4(g).
If your household size or makeup has changed, your accommodation needs (accessibility) or ability to pay for a unit has changed, you should consider adjusting your unit request.
Move-in timelines
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, approximately sixty (60) days.
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. (Membership Bylaw, Article 6.2.8 Moving date: taking occupancy in Woodsworth)
The move must happen on the specified date.
Once a unit is accepted, you’re removed from all other waiting lists for Woodsworth.
The members in the household must sign the Occupancy Agreement. See Management.
Maintaining your application
If you are on a waiting list, it is essential that Woodsworth management has your current contact information, including your mailing address, phone numbers, and email address.
Your place on the external waiting list
To check your position on the external waiting list or to update your contact information, please contact the Office by phone at 416-363-3418 or by email using the Contact Woodsworth link.
Please note that Woodsworth also maintains a priority waiting list for special circumstances, particularly for disability-related accommodation, as required under human rights legislation. As a result, it is not possible to determine an exact position on the waiting list.
For more information:
Unit allocation, time lines (offers, refusals), and more: unit allocation
Unit types and floor plans.
Other related topics: Membership, long-term guests, relocation & unit allocation
For details, see the Membership Bylaw, Membership Bylaw: Member Approval and Unit Allocation