Currently, before an apartment is eligible to lease to a Section 8 voucher holder, the administering Public Housing Authority (PHA) must inspect that unit for compliance with HUD-prescribed Housing Quality Standards (HQS) prior to lease and then annually thereafter. PHAs handling 1,250 or fewer units must complete the initial unit inspection within 15 days of a tenancy approval request. Those with more than 1,250 units must conduct the initial inspection within 15 days or within a “reasonable” time after the request. Apartment owners agree that voucher holders should reside in safe, sanitary environments, but we believe that this can be achieved without conducting individual unit inspections.
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