Expand your understanding of rent-geared-to-income

This online course helps non-profit housing providers understand how to calculate and administer Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) in Ontario.

Recommended for: Community housing staff responsible for administering or reviewing RGI decisions. It is tailored to providers who operate units or have rent supplement agreements with their service manager under the Housing Services Act, 2011.

Note: This course does not apply to community housing providers who continue to operate under former federal agreements (Section 95) or provincial agreements with Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOH/LTC) or Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS).

Knowledge level
Good for beginners
Duration
12 weeks
Flexible schedule
Self-paced. 3-4 hours of work per week.
Earn a certificate
Plus get a digital badge upon completion

Are you located in Toronto? All staff administering RGI in Toronto must enroll in our specialized Toronto course, created in collaboration with the City of Toronto, which covers local rules unique to the city. If you operate in Toronto, please visit City of Toronto’s Training Opportunities for more information.

Next course: April 8 – July 1, 2025.

What you’ll learn

  • The basics of Housing Services Act, 2011
  • Local rules for service managers
  • Assessing RGI eligibility
  • How to determine the right housing unit
  • How to determine Adjusted Family Net Income
  • How to calculate RGI (including the new minimum rent)
  • How to apply adjustments for utilities
  • When to review RGI
  • How and when to implement RGI changes
  • What to do when tenants no longer qualify for RGI
  • How to send out proper notices
  • What to do when RGI households ask for a review or appeal

Course content

Here’s an overview of your course curriculum:

Module 1: The concept of RGI

In this module you will learn the basics of RGI and the Housing Services Act, 2011 (HSA). You’ll cover topics such as HSA and privacy, local rules, the Human Rights Code, discretion, and what responsibilities fall under service managers, housing providers, and tenants.

Module 2: The RGI application

In this module you will learn the eligibility rules for RGI housing and the number of bedrooms that an RGI household may qualify for. We will cover the process required to fill RGI units and how to verify eligibility.

Module 3: The RGI process

In this module you will learn how to determine household composition and how to verify income.

Module 4: The RGI calculation

In this module you will learn how to calculate the total monthly rent for an RGI unit. We’ll discuss the different methods and steps required.

Module 5: The RGI decision

In this module you will learn how to set up policies, procedures, and practices to help you administer RGI decisions. We will cover topics such as how to conduct RGI reviews, what happens when a tenant loses eligibility after move-in, how to send notices of decisions, and appeals.

Pricing

$499

Cost

$425

Service Managers

$375

Upgraded Members

How it works

Developed by experts in the field, this course allows housing professionals to learn through readings, videos, interactive activities such as written exercises and quizzes*, and graded assignments.

ONPHA’s online courses can be completed at your own time and schedule from any internet-enabled device. You will have access to the content and a moderator for a period of three months.

*Note: You’ll need to achieve a grade of 80% or higher on each quiz in order to pass the course.

Requirements

In order to access this course, make sure you have:

  • Internet connection
  • Operating systems: Windows 7 or higher, Mac OS X 10.6 or higher
  • Browser: Runs JavaScript
  • Software: Microsoft Office 365 or Open Office, and updated versions of Adobe Reader