Types of Inspections


Units subsidized under the Housing Choice Voucher Program must meet a minimum standard of health and safety rules called Housing Quality Standards (HQS). To ensure compliance, all units are inspected before a Voucher Holder moves in and as required thereafter. Following is an overview of the types of inspections and timetables.

New Move (Initial) Inspection

After a Voucher Holder selects a unit to rent, and has successfully passed the Property Owner’s application and screening process, the Voucher Holder or Property Owner submits a Request for Tenancy Approval (RTA) form to HCVP.  Approximately three (3) to five (5) business days after receipt of the RTA, the Owner will receive an automated call requesting he/she schedule the initial inspection appointment through the Inspections Call Center at (312) 895-2409.

If the unit fails this initial inspection, the Property Owner is required to repair the outstanding deficiencies and schedule the reinspection within 14 days of the previous failed inspection.  If more than 14 days pass without the Property Owner scheduling the reinspection appointment, the RTA is cancelled and the HCVP will instruct the Voucher Holder to look for another unit. 

Annual Inspections

Program rules require that all units be inspected once a year. Approximately 60 to 90 days before the anniversary date of the last annual inspection, HCVP will mail Property Owners and Voucher Holders a letter with an inspection date.

When a unit fails an annual inspection, the Property Owner has 30 days to make the required repairs.  In cases where an emergency fail item is found during inspection, the Property Owner has 24 hours to make the required repairs. If a unit fails re-inspection, then the Property Owner’s Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) will be stopped (abated) until the unit passes inspection.

Non-emergency Complaint Inspections

Complaint inspections are conducted when the Family or Property Owner reports a HQS violation. Non-emergency complaint inspections are generally scheduled within two weeks. HCVP will notify both the Voucher Holder and Property Owner by mail of the inspection date. If the inspector notes violations during the complaint inspection, the violations must be corrected within 30 days, or the HCVP will stop (abate) Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) to the Property Owner.

Emergency Complaint Inspections

When a Property Owner or Family reports a situation or condition that poses an immediate threat to the Family’s health or safety, HCVP will conduct an emergency inspection.

Items that warrant an emergency inspection include, but are not limited to:

  • No electricity or gas
  • No running water
  • No heat between September 15 and June 1*
  • Uninhabitable units due to fire or other catastrophes
  • Destroyed or vandalized property that prevents the tenant from entering the unit, using the bathroom or kitchen

*Inadequate heat outside these dates is considered a complaint and the inspection will generally be conducted within two to three weeks of notification. From September 15 to June 1, the furnace or heat source must be capable of maintaining the following minimum temperatures throughout the day:

8:30am — 10:30pm: 68ºF
10:30pm — 8:30am: 66ºF

Due to the severity of these violations, emergency inspections occur the same day the violation is reported and must be corrected within 24 hours of the inspection, or the HCVP will stop (abate) Housing Assistance Payments (HAP).

Quality Control Inspections

CHVP inspects some units for monitoring and training purposes. Units are selected at random, based on a sample of unit types, location and the inspector. Property Owners and Families will receive approximately two weeks notice in advance. If the inspector notes violations during the Quality Control inspection, the violations must be corrected within 30 days, or the CHA will stop (abate) Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) to the Property Owner.

INSPECTION OUTCOMES — VOUCHER HOLDER FAIL ITEMS


Voucher Holders are responsible for the following HQS violations:
  • Family fails to pay for family-supplied utilities
  • Family fails to provide and maintain family-supplied appliances
  • Family or guest causes unit or building damage

If the Voucher Holder does not make the required repairs within 30 days, then the Voucher Holder will be terminated from the program.  The Voucher Holder is still responsible for fulfilling the terms of his/her lease, including rent payment to the Property Owner.  Under most circumstances, if the Property Owner chooses to begin the eviction process, HCVP will continue to issue payments to the Property Owner until a judgment is rendered.

Voucher Holders are also held accountable for the following inspection-related violations:
  • Family cancels two consecutive scheduled inspections
  • Family does not allow inspector access to the unit to conduct an inspection
  • Family items fail on two consecutive inspections
  • Family items fail first inspection and then the Family cancels re-inspection

Downloads:

Official HUD Inspection Form #52580-A (used by inspectors)
Self-inspection checklist