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Inspections
Section 8 Unit Inspections
Initial Inspections
A Housing Quality Standard (HQS) inspection must be conducted prior to initial occupancy. HCV residents are free to lease any house or apartment they choose within the City of Stamford, as long as it meets certain requirements for quality. Once a unit has been selected, the prospective landlord must complete a Request for Lease Approval (RFLA) Form. The HCV resident must submit it to our office. When the RFLA has been received, we will call the resident/landlord to schedule an inspection of the property. If the unit passes inspection and the rent is approved, a Lease must be signed and provided. The language in the lease must be consistent and agree with HUD rules, regulations and guidelines. All landlords must sign a concurrent one-year Contract with COC. The unit inspections are conducted by COC Inspectors and approved before the subsidy can begin. All participating units must be documented as being decent, safe, sanitary and free of any lead base paint in the unit.
If the unit does not pass inspection, we will allow up to thirty (30) days for correction of the repair items. A re-check inspection will be necessary to confirm that the corrections have been made. Residents have only 120 days to find housing before they risk losing their Housing Choice Voucher, so repairs must be made in a timely manner. Please review the Housing Quality Standards Checklist on our forms page.
Annual Inspections
COC will conduct an annual inspection prior to the end of the Lease term to ensure the unit continues to meet Housing Quality Standards (HQS). You and your tenant will receive a letter from COC if the unit does not pass inspection. The letter will list the items requiring repair and will give you a date by which the repairs must be completed. If the violations are not corrected within the time limit given, COC will abate the Housing Assistance Payment.
COC will not abate the rent if all of the Housing Quality Standards violations are caused by the resident. However, the Housing Authority may terminate the resident's assistance if the resident-caused HQS violations are not corrected. A 30-day notice will be provided to you and the resident for any COC termination.
Failed Inspections
Failed inspections require re-checks and delay the initial contract process, including your first Housing Assistance Payment. Please help expedite this process by checking the following items in your unit prior to its scheduled inspection.
These are the most common reasons an inspection will fail:
- Smoke Detectors - not present, missing batteries, or dead batteries. They must be working and present on each level of the unit, including basements.
- Chipping or Peeling Paint - There must be no chipping or peeling paint on any surfaces on the inside or outside of the unit.
- Water Heater - without an extension pipe on the pressure relief valve (pipe must extend to within 6 inches of the base of the water heater or floor).
- Double key or Double-Cylinder Locks are prohibited because these locks require use of a key to open from the inside. In the event of an emergency exit is required.
- Not having a single-Cylinder Lock - on all swinging exterior doors of a unit.
- Window Bars - If present they must have a quick release that can be easily opened by even young children.
- Dirty Unit - a unit that is not clean and ready for occupancy.
- Plumbing Problems - leaking pipes or running faucets.
- Window Locks - missing or not working on accessible windows.
- Electrical Hazards - missing or cracked outlet covers, outlets not working or damaged.
- Fences - leaning fences are a safety hazard.
- Yard - garbage, debris, unregistered and inoperable vehicles.
It only takes one deficiency for a unit to fail an inspection. Failed units require a re-check. Re-checks cost money and time. You can help save time and money by doing your own inspection and making repairs prior to COC inspection.
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