Housing Quality Standards / Abatement

HUD regulations require that:

1. The rental unit must pass HQS inspection prior to approval and execution of the lease addendum and contract with the Housing Authority. 
2. The rental unit must pass HQS inspection every year, prior to the recertification expiration date. 
3. The owner/agent or the family can request at any time an HQS inspection when HQS are not being met by either party.

In addition, the Housing Authority's Annual Plan may require a percentage of units be re-inspected for Quality Control.

If after your rental unit is under contract with the Housing Choice Voucher Program and SHRA finds health and safety issues not in compliance with HQS we will give you notice and a specific time period (7-30 days) to repair. If the violation is not fixed when we re-inspect, we will stop payments, and you CANNOT evict the tenant. You must make the needed repairs before we will start payment again.

The family is also responsible for damages caused to the rental unit. SHRA will NOT reimburse the owner for damages. This is another reason you should screen your families carefully, as well as collecting an adequate (and lawful) security deposit.

Be sure to have a specific provision addressing this in your lease agreement. You should state what the responsibility of the family would be in regards to repayment for damages, and timeframes you expect payment for damages.