FEATURE
Inspections
What is the purpose of Housing Quality Standards?
The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program provides decent, safe, and sanitary housing at an affordable cost to low-income families. Housing Quality Standards (HQS) help HUD and local public housing authorities define standard housing and establish minimum quality criteria for participants’ health and safety.
Every housing unit must meet these standards to participate in the HCV program.
When do HQS inspections occur?
Initial inspections
An initial inspection occurs when a voucher holder asks to lease a particular housing unit. The unit must pass inspection before the assisted lease and Housing Assistance Payments contract can be executed and payments can begin.
Biennial inspections
Units currently leased by HCV participant families are inspected every other year. These inspections ensure that each unit continues to meet Housing Quality Standards throughout the tenancy.
Special inspections
Special inspections may be complaint inspections or quality-control inspections.
- Complaint inspections: Occur when a tenant, owner, or member of the public reports concerns about an HCV unit’s condition.
- Quality-control inspections: Examine a sample of units within a public housing authority’s jurisdiction and may occur throughout the year.