Laserfiche WebLink
Administrative Plan 4/1/16 Page 8-1 <br />Chapter 8 <br />HOUSING QUALITY STANDARDS AND RENT REASONABLENESS <br />DETERMINATIONS <br />[24 CFR 982 Subpart I and 24 CFR 982.507] <br />INTRODUCTION <br />HUD requires that all units occupied by families receiving Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) <br />assistance meet HUD's Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and permits SAHA to establish <br />additional requirements. The use of the term "HQS" in this plan refers to the combination of both <br />HUD and SAHA-established requirements. <br />All units must pass an HQS inspection prior to the approval of a lease and at least once every 24 <br />months during the term of the contract, and at other times as needed, to determine that the unit <br />meets HQS. Effective July 1, 2014, PHAs may establish a policy for performing unit inspections <br />biennially rather than annually. This policy could apply to some or all assisted units. PHAs still <br />have the option to inspect every unit annually. See Section 8-II.G for further details. <br />HUD also requires PHAs to determine that rents for units under the program are reasonable <br />when compared to comparable unassisted units in the market area. <br />This chapter explains HUD and SAHA requirements related to housing quality and rent <br />reasonableness as follows: <br />Part I. Physical Standards. This part discusses the physical standards required of units <br />occupied by HCV-assisted families and identifies decisions about the acceptability of the <br />unit that may be made by the family based upon the family's preference. It also identifies <br />life-threatening conditions that must be addressed on an expedited basis. <br />Part II. The Inspection Process. This part describes the types of inspections SAHA will <br />make and the steps that will be taken when units do not meet HQS. <br />Part III. Rent Reasonableness Determinations. This part discusses the policies SAHA will <br />use to make rent reasonableness determinations. <br />Special HQS requirements for homeownership, manufactured homes, and other special housing <br />types are discussed in Chapter 15 to the extent that they apply in this jurisdiction. <br />3-211