Finding Text
Federal Program U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development AL #14.871 Criteria For units under HAP contract that fail to meet HQS, the PHA must require the owner to correct any life threatening HQS deficiencies within 24 hours after inspections and all other HQS deficiencies within 30 calendar days or within a specified PHA-approved extension. (24 CFR sections 982.158(d) and 982.404). Condition During our review of HQS enforcement, we noted three separate instances where documentation within the file was not present to verify the HQS deficiencies were corrected within the required timeframe. These issues were not life threatening. Cause Tenant specialist failed to document the follow up on HQS deficiencies. Effect The HQS deficiencies could have been not addressed in a timely manner. Questioned Costs None Context We reviewed ten files that contained failed HQS deficiencies. Repeat Finding Not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend the Authority implement internal controls to ensure that HQS deficiencies are followed up and documented in a timely manner. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions A HUD waiver was approved in 2020 allowing the HRA to delay Housing Quality Standards Inspections of units during COVID. This waiver ended June 30, 2022, requiring all delayed inspections to be completed by June 30, 2022. Housing staff worked diligently to ensure inspections were completed by the deadline. Due to the delay in housing inspections during COVID, we experienced the following issues: 1. More units had failed inspection items 2. Landlords needed more time to make repairs due to lack of available materials, 3. Tenants postponed work and follow up inspections due to illness or COVID fears It was noted that 3 of the tenant files had non-life-threatening inspection items that were not completed by the landlord within the HUD timeline of 30 calendar days and follow up notes to this effect were not present in these files. The HRA will take steps to ensure if an inspection item fails, it will be followed up within 30 days with a note in the file explaining the reason. Housing Staff will use Outlook or other reminder systems to check on the progress of the inspection. Housing Director will run a monthly report for review and oversight of all failed inspections to verify completion or follow up needed.