Inspections

TRANSITION TO NSPIRE-V

Effective July 1, 2025: EHA will adopt the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) to replace the current Housing Quality Standards (HQS) for all Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) inspections. 

Important Links:

• HUD NSPIRE Standards
• NSPIRE Inspections Landlord Resources
• NSPIRE: Preparing for an NSPIRE Inspection Job Aid

Under NSPIRE, inspections will assess minimum habitability requirements across three distinct areas:

• The Unit - Inside the individual assisted dwelling
• The Building Inside - Shared spaces such as hallways and stairwells
• The Building Outside - Exterior elements like roofs, foundations, and common grounds

Each area will be evaluated for deficiencies categorized by severity (Life-Threatening, Severe, Moderate, or Low), with required timelines for correction.

Additionally, the Public and Federally Assisted Housing Fire Safety Act of 2022 required all smoke alarms to have a sealed 10-year battery beginning December 29, 2024. Landlords were previously notified of this requirement. This will continue to be enforced through NSPIRE. 

Correction Timeframe

When a unit does not pass inspection, landlords will be provided with a list of deficiencies and the timeframe repairs must be completed within. Each deficiency is identified in the NSPIRE standards as either life-threatening, severe, moderate, or low.

	Life-Threatening Deficiencies	Severe & Moderate Deficiencies	Low Level Deficiencies
Correction Timeframe	Within 24 hours after notice provided - see list of life-threatening deficiencies below	Within 30 days after notice provided	Noted by the inspector for informational purposes; corrective action not required
Extensions	Not available	May be granted on a case-by-case basis with management approval - see below for details	N/A

Extension Requests

Please contact the EHA Inspections team if you need an extension to complete the necessary corrections. Extension requests will be granted for Non-Life-Threatening deficiencies only. Be prepared to provide the following information:

1. Reason for extension
2. Timeline of repairs
3. Steps you will take to complete the repairs
4. Any additional information regarding the repairs (contractor/company name, if applicable, estimates, etc.)

Who is responsible for repairs?

Family Responsibilities The family is held responsible for the following deficiencies: Tenant-paid utilities not in service Damage to the unit or premises caused by a household member or guest beyond ordinary wear and tear (damages which could be assessed against the security deposit under state law or in court practice). If the family fails to correct a discrepancy or allow the landlord to correct it within the period allowed, EHA will terminate the family's assistance.

Landlord Responsibilities The landlord is responsible for all NSPIRE deficiencies not listed as a Family Responsibility.  If the landlord fails to correct deficiencies by the time specified, EHA must stop housing assistance payments (abatement) no later than the first of the month following the specified correction period (including any approved extension)[24 CFR 985.3(f)]. No retroactive payments will be made to the owner for the period the rent was abated. If the repairs are not made by the end of the abated month, housing Assistance Payments are terminated fully. Owner rents are not abated as a result of deficiencies that are the family's responsibility.

EHA Implementation of NSPIRE:

April 2025-June 2025, EHA will be continuing HQS inspections, but will be noting any NSPIRE-related deficiencies seen during the course of the inspection, and providing those to landlords as an education, preparation method. Repairs on NSPIRE deficiencies during this time are not required to continue receiving Housing Assistance Payments but will be suggested.

EHA is committed to supporting landlords through this transition to the NSPIRE standards. Over the next few months, we will be providing additional resources, including informative materials and interactive information sessions designed to help you navigate the new standards. Please watch for information session dates and other important NSPIRE information coming soon.

Beginning July 1, 2025, EHA will be fully implementing NSPIRE inspection standards, and all NSPIRE deficiencies must be completed within the required timeframe in order to continue receiving Housing Assistance Payments.

Common Life-Threatening (LT) Deficiencies

NSPIRE life-threatening deficiencies that must be corrected within 24 hours:

Inspectable Item	Deficiency
Carbon Monoxide Alarm	Carbon monoxide alarm is missing, not installed, or not installed in a proper location. carbon monoxide alarms are required inside units and in inside areas such as hallways that contain fuel-burning appliance or fireplace, cabanas, pool rooms, or other common area amenities. Carbon monoxide alarm is obstructed Carbon monoxide alarms do not produce an audio or visual alarm when tested
Chimney	A visually accessible chimney, flute, or firebox connected toa  fireplace or wood-burning appliance is incomplete or damaged such that it may not safely contain fire and convey smoke and combustion gases to the exterior Chimney exhibits signs of structural failure
Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ventilation	The dryer transition duct is detached or missing The dryer exhaust ventilation system has restricted airflow
Egress	Obstructed means of egress The sleeping room is located on the third floor or below and has an obstructed rescue opening Fire escape is obstructed
Electrical - Conductor, Outlet, and Switch	The outlet or switch is damaged Exposed electrical conductor
Exit Sign	Exit sign is damaged, missing, obstructed, or not adequately illuminated
Fire Extinguisher	Fire extinguisher pressure gauge reads over or under-charged Fire extinguisher service tag is missing, illegible, or expired The fire extinguisher is damaged or missing
Guardrail	Guardrail is missing, not installed, or not functionally adequate
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)	The inspection date is on or between October 1 and March 31 and the permanently installed heating source is not working or the permanently installed heating source is working, and the interior temperature is below 64 degrees Fahrenheit Combustion chamber cover or gas shutoff valve is missing from a fuel burning heating appliance Fuel burning heating system or device exhaust vent is misaligned, blocked, disconnected, improperly connected, damaged, or missing
Leak - Gas or Oil	Natural gas, propane, or oil leak
Mold-Like Substance	The presence of mold-like substances at extremely high levels is observed visually
Smoke Alarm	Smoke alarm is not installed where required The smoke alarm is obstructed Smoke alarm does not produce an audio or visual alarm when tested
Water Heater	Chimney or flute piping is blocked, misaligned, or missing The gas shutoff valve is damaged, missing, or not installed
Other	Utilities not in service, including no running hot water

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Housing Quality Standard (HQS) inspections come in three different varieties:

• Initial Inspections occur when a voucher holder indicates to their PHA that they desire to lease a specific housing unit. The unit must pass the initial inspection before the execution of the assisted lease and housing assistance payments (HAP) contract and the initiation of payments.
• Biannual inspections occur once every two years on housing units that are currently under lease by an HCV participant family. Biannual inspections ensure that HCV housing units continue to meet HQS throughout the tenancy of the HCV participant family.
• Special inspections may be complaint inspections or quality control inspections. Complaint inspections occur when a tenant, owner, or member of the public complains about the condition of an HCV housing unit. Quality control inspections examine a sample of housing units within a given PHA's jurisdiction each year to verify the work of the inspectors and occur throughout the year.