HOUSING QUALITY STANDARDS (HQS) INSPECTION …

1 HOUSING QUALITY STANDARDS (HQS) INSPECTION RESOURCE GUIDEFOR HCV OWNERP 3 WELCOMEDear Owner/Agent:On behalf of the Philadelphia HOUSING Authority (PHA), I want to personally thank you for participating in the HOUSING Choice Voucher Program (HCV). Because of property owners like you, over 18,000 families, seniors and people with disabilities in the City of Philadelphia have safe, decent, sanitary and affordable I have previously shared with you, PHA relies on like-minded people like you to make the HCV program a success for our clients and community. I hope you find the enclosed HOUSING QUALITY STANDARDS (HQS) INSPECTION Checklist Resources Guide and the checklist HQS INSPECTION Resource Guide and checklist is designed to increase your understanding of how the HQS INSPECTION process works, your responsibilities as a participating HCV owner, and how to maintain your unit while under Contract with PHA.

2 This Guide is intended to be used together with PHA s Standard Operating Procedures for the Lead Safe HOUSING Rule and Lead Disclosure Rule, referenced throughout this also visit our Landlord Data Center at , where you can access all HQS INSPECTION data for your HCV program units. The portal provides you with upcoming INSPECTION dates, the status of the inspections and any HQS failure do not hesitate to contact PHA s HCV Inspections Department at 215-684-3860 or via email at with any questions. On behalf of PHA s Board of Commissioners, Management and Staff, thank you for your partnership and participation in the HCV yours, Kelvin A.

3 JeremiahPresident & Chief Executive OfficerPhiladelphia HOUSING Authority P 5 Overview ..7 HQS INSPECTION Resource Guide ..7 General Requirements ..7 A. Electrical Hazards ..8 B. Doors ..8 C. Windows ..8 D. Ceilings ..8 E. Walls ..9 F. Floors ..9 Room-by-Room Guide ..91 . Living Room ..9 Living Room ..9 Living Room Electricity ..9 Living Room Electrical Hazards .. 9 Living Room Security ..9 Living Room Window Condition ..10 Living Room Ceiling Condition ..10 Living Room Wall Condition ..10 Living Room Floor Condition ..10 Living Room Lead-Based Paint ..102 . Kitchen ..10 Kitchen Area Present ..10 Kitchen Electricity.

4 10 Kitchen Electrical Hazards ..10 Kitchen Security ..10 Kitchen Window Condition ..11 Kitchen Ceiling Condition ..11 Kitchen Wall Condition ..11 Kitchen Floor Condition ..11 Kitchen Lead-Based Paint ..11 Stove or Range with Oven ..11 Refrigerator ..11 Kitchen Sink ..12 Kitchen Space for Storage, Preparation and Serving of Food ..123 . Bathroom ..12 Bathroom Present ..12 Bathroom Electricity ..12 Bathroom Electrical Hazards ..2 Bathroom Security .. 13 Bathroom Window Condition ..13 Bathroom Ceiling Condition ..13 Bathroom Wall Condition ..13 Bathroom Floor Condition ..13 Lead-Based Paint.

5 13 Flush Toilet in Enclosed Room ..13 Fixed Wash Basin ..13 Tub and Shower ..13 Ventilation ..144 . Other Rooms Used for Living ..14 Bedrooms or Other Rooms used for Living ..14 Other Rooms: Electricity/Illumination ..14 Other Rooms: Electrical Hazards ..14 Other Rooms: Security ..14 Other Rooms: Window Condition ..14 Other Rooms: Ceiling Condition ..15 Other Rooms: Wall Condition ..15 Other Rooms: Floor Condition ..15 Lead-Based Paint ..15 Smoke Detectors ..155 . All Secondary Rooms Not Used For Living ..15 Basements ..15 Security ..16 Electrical Hazards ..16 Other Potential Hazards.

6 166 . Building Exterior ..16 Condition of the Foundation ..16 Conditions of Stairs, Rails, Porches ..16 Condition of Roof and Gutters ..17 Condition of Exterior Surfaces ..17 Condition of Chimney ..17 Lead-Based Paint-Building Exterior .. 177 . Heating and Plumbing ..17 Adequacy of Heating Equipment ..17 Safety of Heating Equipment ..18 Ventilation and Cooling ..18 Water Heater ..18 Water Supply ..19 Plumbing ..19 Sewer Connection ..198 . General Health & Safety ..20 Access to the Unit ..20 Exits ..20 Infestation ..20 Garbage and Debris ..20 Refuse Disposal ..20 Interior Stairs and Common Halls.

7 20 Interior - General ..21 Elevators ..21 Interior Air QUALITY ..21 Site and Neighborhood Conditions .. 21 Lead-Based Paint ..21 Acronyms ..21 Glossary ..22 APPENDIX A: PHA HQS INSPECTION Checklist Guide ..24 APPENDIX B: Additional INSPECTION Information ..30 TABLE OF CONTENTSP 7 Overview The objective of the HOUSING Choice Voucher (HCV) Program is to assist low income families in leasing decent, safe, and sanitary HOUSING at an affordable Department of HOUSING and Urban Development (HUD), as authorized by law, developed HOUSING QUALITY STANDARDS (HQS) that establish the minimum requirements HOUSING must meet before assistance is provided under the HCV HQS represent the minimum requirements for determining that the HOUSING is decent, safe and sanitary.

8 The Philadelphia HOUSING Authority (PHA) is responsible for ensuring that each unit occupied by a HCV Program Participant meets the HQS. The PHA HQS INSPECTION Checklist Guide has been created to assist HCV Owners with conducting pre-inspections prior to the scheduled PHA HQS INSPECTION . The items listed in this document does not contain all possible failures, however, it does cover items that fail is the owner, landlord, or property manager s responsibility to ensure that HQS repairs have been completed sufficiently and timely. Repairs determined to be insufficient, incomplete, or repairs completed with improper material will be issued a failed INSPECTION Resource GuideThe following details the general requirements that apply to each unit, then a room-by-room PHA HQS INSPECTION Checklist Guide owners can follow to complete a pre-HQS INSPECTION .

9 Each part of the checklist will be accompanied by an explanation of the item to be general requirements include: A. Electrical Hazards B. Doors C. Windows D. Ceilings E. Walls F. FloorsThe HQS checklist includes: 1. Living Room 2. Kitchen 3. Bathroom 4. All Other room used for Living (dining rooms, bedrooms) 5. All Secondary Rooms not used for Living (basements, utility rooms) 6. Heating and Plumbing 7. Building Exterior 8. General Health and SafetyA short PHA HQS INSPECTION Checklist Guide that owners can use to complete a pre- INSPECTION of their unit is attached at the end of the Guide as APPENDIX A: PHA HQS INSPECTION Checklist. Additional information about inspections may be found in APPENDIX B: Additional INSPECTION you have any questions about any item on the checklist please contact our HCV Inspections Department at 215-684-3860 or via email at General Requirements A.

10 Electrical HazardsThe unit should be free of electrical hazards. Unacceptable conditions include (but are not limited to):Wiring and Connections Exposed, uninsulated, frayed, or broken wires. Improper electrical connections. Improper insulation or grounding of any component of the system, including: Rubber or plastic coated electrical wiring mounted on the exterior surface of a wall or ceiling in the manner that could result in the wire being broken, cut, or otherwise damaged (wiring should be securely mounted). Wiring in traffic areas that is not in a conduit. Electrical cords running under rugs or carpet. Extension cords permanently being used in any and Switches Malfunctioning outlet that is not permanently covered.