Finding Text
2022-004 ? HQS Failed Inspections Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program: Housing Choice Voucher Program FALN: 14.871/14.879 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: MD023, 2022 Award Period: 1/1/2022-12/31/2022 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: 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 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 (abate) HAPs beginning no later than the first of the month following the specified incorrect period or must terminate the HAP contract (24 CFR sections 982.158(d) and 982.404). Condition: We noted that the Commission did not properly abate HAP for landlords in which units failed inspections. Questioned costs: $69,944 Context: During our testing of 40 files for HQS enforcement, we noted the following: 10 of 40 units tested failed inspection due to owner responsibilities and the Commission never abated HAP. 5 of 40 units tested failed due to tenant responsibilities and the Commission did not take proper steps to enforce family obligations. Cause: The Commission did not follow established procedures in their Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan or as required by HUD. Effect: The Commission is not in compliance with HUD requirements. Repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the Commission review their abatement procedures to ensure any unit that has not met the HQS standards is properly abated as well as review their procedures for enforcing correction of deficiencies to tenants. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.