inspections

Initial inspections certify that new units added to the program meet Housing Quality Standards (HQS).  It is acceptable but not desirable for the unit to be occupied by the tenant during this inspection.  During an initial inspection the Inspector also determines reasonable rent.  Rental units must pass inspection before Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Contracts are signed and rent payments are issued. 

If HQS defects are identified during an initial inspection, the unit will be temporarily denied from the program and the owner will be notified by mail of the required corrective action needed for the unit to pass inspection.  The defects should be repaired and reinspected with fifteen (15) days. 

Yearly inspections are conducted to determine if a unit continues to meet HQS.  Any defects that are the owner’s responsibility need to be corrected by the owner.  Tenant defects need to be corrected by the tenant.  After defects are corrected, reinspection of the unit must be scheduled.  Owners and tenants will be notified by mail of any defects and allowed thirty (30) days or less to complete repairs.  Repairs must be completed and reinspected by a stated deadline or the Housing Assistance Payment will be abated for each day the unit is not in HQS compliance beyond the stated deadline.

Should an owner’s HAP check be abated for non-compliance the owner will not receive payment for the days the unit did not comply with HQS and the owner may not collect the unpaid HAP amount from the tenant.  If corrective action is not complete, the HAP Contract will terminate the last day of the month in which the stated deadline falls.

The owner must notify the Housing Authority when the defects are completed
and schedule the recheck inspection.
The tenant is not responsible for rechecks on owner defects.

Special inspections are performed as a result of a complaint from family, an owner, a community organization, or other sources.  LHA may also initiate a special inspection at any time if it is perceived the unit is not in compliance with HQS.  Tenants requesting a special inspection are required to first notify the owner in writing of complaints and allow a reasonable time for the owner to respond.  A lack of owner response to the complaint will prompt a special inspection.  Results of special inspections will be followed up using the same procedure as outlined for an annual inspection.