Finding 1201270 (2025-001)

Criteria: In accordance with 24 CFR sections 982.158(d) and 982.404, units under housing assistance payment (HAP) contract that fail to meet Housing Quality Standards (HQS), the Public Housing Authority (PHA) must require the owner to correct any life threatening HQS deficiencies within 24 hours after the inspections and all other HQS deficiencies within 30 calendar days or within a specified PHA-approved extension. If the owner does not correct the cited HQS deficiencies within the specified correction period, the PHA must stop HAPs beginning no later than the first of the month following the specified correction period or must terminate the HAP contract. Condition: A review of five HQS inspection files identified three cases where life-threatening HQS deficiencies were not corrected and verified within the required 24-hour timeframe. In these cases, life-threatening deficiencies remained unresolved beyond the required timeframe, including situations where delays were attributed to missed appointments and scheduling issues. Cause: Management did not adequately enforce established HQS procedures to ensure timely correction of life-threatening deficiencies in accordance with policy requirements. Effect: Life-threatening housing quality deficiencies were not corrected within required timeframes, resulting in noncompliance with HQS requirements.