Clean & Comfortable

Cleaning routines

Posters about our updated cleaning routines are posted in all buildings. These posters cover the daily, weekly and monthly routines for cleaners. For example, in lobbies and entrances, it is part of the daily routine to vacuum and spot-clean all carpets, mats and runners.

How tenants can help to keep communities clean

Clean buildings are everyone’s responsibility and it takes staff and tenants working together to keep a building clean. Here are some tips to remember:

• Properly dispose of cigarette butts when smoking in outdoor common areas or on your balcony.
• Keep the lobby, hallways and other common areas clear of clutter, garbage/debris and large objects, including scooters and bikes. Never leave items in common areas as they are fire and safety hazards.
• Enjoy your balcony responsibly. Never throw garbage, cigarette butts or other items off the balcony. Don’t use your balcony for storage.
• Dispose of waste properly. Keep the trash chute clear and do not leave garbage bags and/or garbage/debris on the floor of the chute room or in common areas. Sort your garbage and recycling properly, and bring your recycling to the designated recycling area or bin.
• You are responsible for your pet’s behaviour and the behaviour of the pets of any visitors or guests. This includes cleaning up after pets and keeping them on a leash in common areas.

If you see something, say something! Please report things that could be dangerous to others (like a spill) to your Superintendent or the Tenant Support Centre at 416-945-0800.

Garbage, organic waste and recycling

Rules about garbage disposal differ from building to building. Check the signs at your building or ask your Superintendent for the information you need.

Please do your share:​

• Separate your garbage, recycling and organic waste. If you’re not sure where an item goes, search the City of Toronto’s Waste Wizard or call 311.
• Tie all garbage in small plastic bags.
• Double-bag cat litter and diapers and include them with other organic waste.
• Rinse all containers that you are recycling. They go down the recycling chute (not in bags) or in the proper bins in the recycling room.
• Take your waste to the right chutes or containers in your building, or to dumpsters outside your building.
• Do not leave items on the floor of the garbage/recycling room. Keep the trash chute, chute room and garbage room clear.
• Do not put glass, aerosol cans, or large items down the garbage chute. Ask your Superintendent where to dispose of these items.
• Ask your Superintendent about where to bring furniture or other large items for the garbage.
• Don’t put batteries in the garbage or recycling. Ask your Superintendent if there is a disposal place for batteries in the building, or take them to a City of Toronto Drop-off Depot.
• Don’t pour cooking oil down the sink, toilet or drain. It can clog the pipes in your building and community.
• Never throw garbage or cigarette butts off your balcony.

Maintenance and repairs

​​​You can help Toronto Seniors Housing keep your unit in good condition by calling the Tenant Support Centre at 416-945-0800 as soon as repairs are needed. If you wait, a problem could become worse and you may be charged for some or all repairs.

You can send an email to support@torontoseniorshousing.ca if it’s not an emergency.
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How repairs happen​​

• During regular business hours, your building ​Superintendent takes care of maintenance and repairs. In the evenings and on weekends, we will send someone to take care of emergencies until your Superintendent can make a permanent repair. For example: If a pipe in your kitchen is leaking, we may send someone to turn the water off in your kitchen until your Superintendent can fix the leak the next day.
• Staff will enter your unit for inspections and to complete repairs. When they do so, they will also check smoke detectors, window screens and other life safety equipment. Unless it is an emergency, we will give you at least 24 hours’ notice before staff enter your unit.​
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Use your tracking number to follow up on your request

When you call the Tenant Support Centre at 416-945-0800 to request a repair, our agents will give you a tracking number. You can use that number to follow up on your request. Be sure to ask for a tracking number every time you call.

Decorating

​Enjoy making your unit comfortable. It’s your home.

Remember: Under the terms of your lease, permanent changes are not allowed when decorating. ​
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​If you do make permanent changes, you will be charged for the cost of returning your unit to the way it was when you moved in.​

• Flooring cannot be changed.
• Doors, cabinets, or plumbing and light fixtures cannot be removed.
• Only sticky picture hooks that will not damage walls can be used. Nails or hooks cannot be used for hanging pictures.

If you have more questions about decorating, speak to your Superintendent or call the Tenant Support Centre at 416-945-0800.

Pet care

​​​We know how important your pet is to you. We have a pet-friendly environment. Please note that City bylaws allow a maximum of three dogs per household. You can have no more than six of any combination of dogs, cats, ferrets and rabbits at any time in your home.

You are responsible for your pet’s behaviour. You are also responsible for the behaviour of the pet of a visitor or guest. This includes excessive noise made by the pet, as well as cleaning up after the pet.

Pets in your unit

If you, or your visitor or guest, have a pet, you need to follow these guidelines:

• Keep your pet on a leash in common areas, for example: when you leave your unit and when going outdoors.
• Be sure that your pet does not damage property or the belongings of others, is not a nuisance, or does not create unreasonable disturbances, as stated in your lease.
• Never leave your pet alone on your balcony.
• Safely secure pets if you know a contractor or staff member will be entering your unit to do maintenance or repairs when you are not home.
• Stoop, scoop and bag your pet’s waste every time. Dispose of pet waste responsibly:
  • Use outdoor garbage bins when walking your pet
  • Never discard cat litter waste in the toilet
  • Double bag all pet waste (cat litter, bird cage linings) securely for garbage chute disposal​

Pet licensing

To find out if you need a license for your pet and for other rules about pets, call the City of Toronto at 416-338-7387 or review the Pet Licensing section of the ​​website.​

Complaints about neighbours’ pets

If your neighbours’ dog barks all the time or they never pick up after their pet, or you have other pet complaints, email animalservices@toronto.ca or contact 416-338-7539.

​Complaints about neighbours’ pets must be logged with this service before Toronto Seniors Housing staff can follow up with your neighbours about your concerns.

Heating and cooling

​​Heating

Building staff monitor the temperature in most buildings. According to the Toronto rental apartment heat bylaw​, building temperatures should be at least 21 Celsius from September 15 to June 1. We use this bylaw to decide when to turn the heat on and off.

If you are concerned about the temperature inside your unit, check for two important things:

1. Are any of the windows open? Check to make sure both the inside and outside panes are closed.
2. Can you adjust your thermostat to a warmer setting? Try moving the thermostat to a warmer setting, and wait a few minutes to see if the room gets warmer as a result.

If the temperature inside your unit is still an issue, call the Tenant Support Centre at 416-945-0800.

Window ​air conditioners are not permitted.

Green tips

​Use less energy and water, and reduce waste.

We are making changes to our properties to help save energy and water.​ Less money spent on utilities means more money for building maintenance. You can do your part:

• Turn lights off when you leave.
• Take shorter showers.
• Do not leave the water running while brushing your teeth.
• Use cold water when doing your laundry.​​
• Use a drying rack (not a clothesline) to dry clothes on your balcony instead of using the dryer.
• Keep windows closed in winter. If it is too warm in winter, if possible, turn down the thermostat or talk to your Superintendent.
• Do not use your oven to warm up in winter if it is too cold. It is unsafe. Talk to your Superintendent so we can find the problem and fix it.
• Do not leave the fridge door open, and do not keep it colder than it should be.
• Tell us about leaky taps and windows that do not close properly.
• When buying electronics, look for Energy Star labels. Electronics with this label use less energy.
• Turn off or unplug TVs, stereos, and computers when they are not being used, or use a power bar so you can turn them off with one switch.
• Reduce, recycle, and reuse as much as you can.

If you have questions about recycling or anything else in your building, speak to your Superintendent or call the Tenant Support Centre at 416-945-0800.

Pest control

​Unfortunately, cockroaches, bedbugs, mice, and other pests can sometimes get into homes. They are harder to control in places that are cluttered or overcrowded.

Help us control pests on your property

• Keep your unit clean and clutter-free.
• Do not feed pigeons, squirrels or stray animals. They can attract other pests.
• Do not pick up furniture that others have thrown away, as it could be infested.
• Do not put any garbage in hallways or on the floors of chute rooms, as this contributes to infestation.

Make sure all garbage is placed into the garbage receptacle and the hatch is fully closed. Larger items that do not fit into the chute must be brought to the bulk garbage area.

Bed bugs are a problem in many cities in North America, including Toronto. The only way to control them is to treat infested units right away.

Disposal of large items

Toronto Seniors Housing does not recommend the disposal of furniture without a prior inspection from a pest control professional, as most items can be saved through treatment. If you choose to throw out pest-infested furniture or mattresses, ask your Superintendent for plastic to wrap these items before taking them out of your unit. Never leave anything in the hallway.

Important: Report pests to your Superintendent or call the Tenant Support Centre at 416-945-0800. There is no charge for pest control or treatment unless you fail to prepare your unit or you refuse to let the contractor in. You will receive instructions on how to prepare your unit for treatment.