Inspections

Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Inspections

The housing unit selected by the family must meet an acceptable level of health and safety before Elm City Communities (ECC) can approve the unit. When the voucher holder finds a unit that they wish to occupy and reaches an agreement with the landlord over the lease terms, ECC must inspect the dwelling and determine that the rent requested is reasonable. ECC will inspect the subsidized unit annually to determine that it meets Housing Quality Standards (HQS).

Most Common HQS Fail Items

• Inoperable light fixtures and improperly wired electrical outlets: reverse polarity, open ground, hot neutral reverse, etc.
• Exposed electrical wires/connections: light fixtures missing globes, electrical junction boxes missing cover plates or knockout plugs, breaker boxes with open sockets, etc.
• Missing, inoperable, or incorrectly mounted smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Broken or inoperable windows: cracked glass panes, broken locks, drafty frames, etc.
• Broken or faulty door locks and drafty doors.
• Cutting hazards: protruding sharp nails, pipes/metals objects with jagged edges, deteriorated sheet metal, cracked glass blocks on windows, etc.
• Gaps and holes around heating system flue pipes and gas utility not in service.
• Evidence of rodent and/or bug infestation.
• Holes and large gaps (more than a quarter-inch) on walls, ceilings or floors of living space areas.

Units built prior to 1978 where children under the age of six reside or will reside may additionally fail due to lead paint concerns. Watch for deteriorated and unstable paint on surfaces (peeling, cracking, chipping, etc.).