Inspections
Federal funds can be used only to subsidize housing that is decent, safe, and sanitary. Housing Quality Standards (HQS) are established by HUD to guarantee a basic level of health and safety for all units leased under the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.
NHA adheres to Housing Quality Standards (HQS) as established in 24 CFR 982.401 to perform all required inspections. Interpretative guidance for HQS acceptability criteria is taken from Form HUD 52580-A dated 9/00 and the HUD Housing Inspection Manual.
Before any unit is approved for participation in the program, NHA requires compliance with HQS. Units must be inspected and pass HQS prior to approval of any lease, and at least annually thereafter. Inspections may also occur on other occasions, as warranted, such as in the case of a request for inspection by the owner or family.
Property owners/agents and families are encouraged to be present during an inspection of their unit(s) by NHA.
If at the initial inspection there are defects or deficiencies which must be corrected to make the unit decent, safe and sanitary, you will be advised by NHA of the work required. You have 30 days to complete the work. Before a contract is executed or continued, any unit that fails must be re-inspected to ascertain whether the necessary work has been performed. The unit must be approved as compliant with HQS before execution of the HAP contract.
For help preparing your unit for inspection see our Housing Quality Standards Self-Inspection Checklist.
Payment Standard
The NHA payment standard of approximately 104 percent is based upon the HUD published fair market rents for the Newark metropolitan statistical area. The fair market rent published by HUD is based upon the 40th percentile of rents charged to recent movers (within prior two-year period) in the private rental market. NHA reviews payment standards annually, at the time new fair market rents are published. The current standards are effective as of March 1, 2013.
