Housing Choice Voucher Inspections Information
Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspections
When a Housing Choice Voucher tenant chooses a home, the unit must be inspected by a Housing Authority inspector to confirm the unit meets Housing Quality Standards (HQS). These standards ensure that families moving into your rental units are safe. Other rental assistance programs use similar requirements.
HQS inspections take place before a family moves in and annually or biannually after that. Housing Authority rent payment can begin the day a unit passes an inspection and a resident moves in.
The Housing Authority will schedule the inspection and notify tenants and landlords of the inspection date and time.
This Housing Quality Standards presentation will help you to understand everything that an HQS Inspection entails.
The most commonly failed items are:
- Missing or nonfunctioning smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Cracked and/or broken window panes.
- Missing or damaged window screens.
- Peeling and/or chipping exterior and interior paint.
- Burner on kitchen stove/range not operating as designed.
- Leaking faucets or plumbing.
- Inoperable bathroom fan (when present).
- Carpet and vinyl conditions create tripping hazards.
- Missing handrail for 4 or more steps.
- Loose, missing, or cracked outlet or light switch plates.
- Garbage disposals not operating or missing flanges.
- Missing globes on light fixtures or missing bulbs.
- Broken toilet seats.
- Missing tiles in bath, slow drains, and mold.
The Housing Authority cannot pay rent until a unit passes Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and a resident moves in.
RESOURCES
Inspection Guide
Inspection Presentation
Inspection Checklist