Housing Quality Inspections (HQS)

Q:  What about the initial inspection?

A: The RFTA packet has a specific form that asks when the unit will be ready to be inspected. This is NOT the date we will be inspecting the unit. This is the date the unit is ready to be inspected. We will inspect the unit on or after this date. All housing authorities use the same Federal inspection form: HUD 52580 Inspection Form. We will contact the property owner to schedule an inspection for this unit. The utilities, breakers and appliances must be on and working when the inspector arrives. Do not…we repeat…do not sign a lease with the property owner until the unit has passed the inspection and all required paperwork has been submitted to the Clermont Metropolitan Housing Authority and approved.

If you sign a lease prior to the unit passing inspection we will not pay any portion of rental assistance until the day the unit passes inspection. If the unit never passes inspection we will not pay any form of rental assistance at all and you will be responsible for 100% of the rent.

Once the inspection has passed and all other required paperwork has been submitted and approved, the landlord and tenant are eligible to execute a lease. The executed lease should be submitted to the Clermont Metropolitan Housing Authority to enable the process to generate a HAP Contract. The date of the executed lease should be on or after the date of the unit passing inspection.

Q:  Are there any other inspections?

A:  Landlords and tenants receive a Notice of Inspection scheduled for the annual inspection of each unit under Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Contract. All units must be inspected at least annually even if a tenant is scheduled to move. The Head of Household, co-Head/Spouse, or another adult 18 or over or the Property owner/Management Company agent must be present.

The inspector will return calls or emails if you need to confirm the date and time. All inspections scheduled are mandatory. If the inspector is not able to enter the unit, the inspection will be classified as a No-Show. A No-Show inspection is defined as a Failed inspection.  If a unit fails two consecutive inspections for any failed item the unit will be abated. This means no further payments will be made.

Q:  Are there common reasons why a unit would fail an inspection?

A:  This list shows some of the most common reasons

Windows

• Severe deterioration or windows allowing drafts and weather inside the unit.
• Broken and missing windowpanes or boarded up windows.
• No window in the living room.
• The bedroom doesn’t have at least one window that opens to the outside.
• Bathroom does not have either a working vent fan or a window that opens to the outside.
• No locks on 1st floor windows or other windows accessible from the ground.

Doors

• Lack of effective weather-stripping.
• Inoperable locks or locks installed that require a key to open from the inside, including security doors.
• Doors that do not close properly preventing the lock from working.

Walls and Ceilings

• Bulging plaster or wallboard, damp plaster from leaks or holes.
• Paint (units built before 1978 and occupied by child under age 6)
• Peeling, chipping, flaking, chalking paint on any painted surface in unit, common areas or exterior.
• Rotting or deteriorated substrate under painted surface.

Electricity

• Outlets and overhead/wall mounted fixtures that do not work or were improperly installed.
• Missing covers on outlets and switches. Exposed, cracked, frayed wiring or wiring not properly secured.
• Electrical boxes missing knockouts or open spaces in boxes without breakers or blanks.
• Utilities are not turned on.

Plumbing

• Hot water heaters lack of a temperature pressure relief valve discharge line.
• Hot water heaters have severe corrosion or exposed wiring.
• Plumbing leaks.
• Utilities are not turned on.

Safety

• Unit lacks an operable smoke detector in one or more sleeping room or other required spaces, such as common areas.
• Presence of gas leaks or fumes.

No-Show:

If the inspector is not able to enter the unit, the inspection will be classified as a No-Show. A No-Show inspection is defined as a Failed inspection.

If a unit fails two consecutive inspections for any failed item the unit may be abated. This means no further payments will be made.