Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Pre-Inspection Checklist

Plumbing, Heating & Utilities

• All utilities must be turned on for inspection
• All plumbing systems must be leak-free and work properly
• Both kitchen and bathroom(s) must have hot and cold running water
• Heating system must be in safe working condition and produce enough heat for all living areas in unit
• Hot water tanks must have a pressure/temperature relief valve and it should vent downward. Discharge pipe must be no more than 6" inches off the floor or be routed outside.
• Hot water tank electrical connection needs to be covered with flex conduit

Electrical

• All electrical outlets working, and any 3-prong outlets are either grounded OR have working GFCI protection
• All outlets near a water source must be GFCIs or have working GFCI protection
• All outlets and switches must have covers with no cracking
• No unsecured or exposed wiring; all wiring must be secured to wall or ceiling
• No open light bulb sockets (all fixtures must have bulbs)

Smoke Detectors & Fire Prevention

• Units must have a working smoke detector on every level, including basements and finished attics if applicable, and outside each bedroom or sleeping room
• Every unit must be equipped with a functioning carbon monoxide detector
• All living spaces must have 2 means of fire egress (e.g., doors, windows)

Structure

• Absolutely no tripping hazards anywhere: carpets/flooring, porches, stairs, and walkways must be free of trip hazards
• All ground floor exterior doors and windows must lock, except for screen doors, and must provide a reasonable seal against outside elements and heat loss
• Handrails or railings, both interior and exterior, must be present anywhere where there are 4 or more steps
• Handrails or railings must be present on a porch or landing more than 30" inches high
• The foundation and roof must be structurally sound and watertight

Bedroom(s)

• Must have at least 1 outlet and 1 overhead light, or 2 working outlets
• Window(s) and door(s) that are designed to open, must open and close securely

Bathroom(s)

• At least 1 shower or bathtub in unit in working condition
• At least 1 sink in working condition
• Must have either an outside window OR exhaust fan OR vent to outside
• Must have flushing toilet that works, is securely mounted, and has no leaks

Kitchen

• Stove & oven must be in working order and have all knobs and burners
• Refrigerator must work, be appropriate size for household, have a good door seal/gasket, and maintain proper temperature

For Units Built Before 1978:
If children under the age of 6 will reside in household, the HQS inspector will be checking for chipping, peeling and/or cracking paint surfaces in both the interior and exterior.

Note: this checklist is meant to be a helpful reference and not a complete list of all HQS inspection items. The full HUD checklist can be found here.

If you have additional questions, please click here to contact the EHA.