Before a Housing Choice Voucher tenant can settle into a new home, the property must pass an inspection by a housing authority inspector. This is to ensure that the unit adheres to Housing Quality Standards (HQS), a set of guidelines designed to guarantee the safety and well-being of families in rental units. These standards are common across various rental assistance programs.

The inspection process includes an initial inspection before the family’s move-in and subsequent annual or biannual inspections. The HRA is responsible for scheduling these inspections and will inform tenants and landlords about the inspection date and time. Rent payments from HRA will commence when the unit passes inspection and the tenant occupies the property.

Common issues that can fail an HQS inspection include:

*Utilities not being operational.
*Absence or malfunction of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
*Cracked or broken window panes.
*Damaged or missing window screens.
*Peeling or chipping of both exterior and interior paint.