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 the tenant moves in and as required thereafter. The Inspection s Call Center is available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at (312) 895-2409.  An overview of the types of inspections and timetables is below.

New Move (Initial) Inspection

After the 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 prior to the anniversary date of the last annual inspection, HCVP will mail Property Owners and Families 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 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 Family 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 tenant’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:

8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.   68ºF
10:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m.   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

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

INSPECTION OUTCOMES — PROPERTY OWNER FAIL ITEMS

When a unit fails an annual, complaint, emergency, or quality control inspection, the Property Owner must make the required repairs within the time frames outlined above. If the repairs are not completed by the time of the re-inspection, then the Property Owner’s Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) will be abated until the unit is brought into compliance.  If all needed repairs are the responsibility of the Family, then HAP will not be abated; however, HCVP will begin actions to terminate the Family’s assistance.

HCVP will also stop (abate) HAP in the following situations:

  • Property Owner cancels or is unable to gain access to the unit for two consecutive scheduled inspections
  • Property Owner cancels or fails to reschedule re-inspection after fail items are found
  • HCVP is unable to gain access to the unit after a failed annual, complaint or emergency inspection

Downloads:

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