The goal of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is to provide “decent, safe, and sanitary” housing at an affordable cost to low-income families. HQS helps the Reno Housing Authority (RHA) accomplish this goal by defining “standard housing” and establishing the minimum quality criteria necessary for the health and safety of program participants. All HCV housing units must meet these housing quality standards in order to participate in the HCV program.
Common Questions:
HQS inspections are conducted by RHA staff to ensure that potential and current HCV housing units meet minimum performance and acceptability criteria.
HQS inspections come in three different varieties. Initial Inspections (Move-in Inspections) occur when a voucher holder submits a Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) for a specific housing unit. The unit must pass the initial inspection before the execution of the lease or the housing authority is not able to pay assistance on the unit. Biennial Regular Inspections occur every other year on housing units that are currently under lease by an HCV participant family. Biennial inspections ensure that HCV housing units continue to meet HQS throughout the tenancy of the HCV participant family. Special Inspections may be requested by either the tenant or the landlord and fall outside of the biennial inspection schedule.
RHA has developed a “HQS Self-Inspection Checklist” to assist both tenants and landlords in pre-inspecting their unit to facilitate passing of HQS. This checklist is located in the Forms section of this webpage.