Guide · HQS inspections
The Section 8 inspection checklist - pass the first time.
Before a voucher tenant can move in, the unit must pass a Housing Quality Standards inspection. Most failures are small and stupid. This is the list we walk before every inspection.
Life safety first
The items that fail units.
- Smoke detectors - working, on every level and near bedrooms
- Carbon monoxide detectors - working, per NJ requirements
- Window locks - every accessible window opens, closes, and locks
- Door locks - entry doors lock; deadbolts work
- Railings - secure on stairs and any raised surface
- No trip hazards - torn carpet, broken steps, loose thresholds
- Electrical - no exposed wiring, working outlets and switches, cover plates intact
Condition
The rest of the list.
- Heat - working and able to hold temperature
- Hot water - working heater, no leaks
- Plumbing - no leaks, working fixtures, proper drainage
- Paint - no peeling or chipping, especially in pre-1978 buildings (lead-safe rules)
- Kitchen - working stove and refrigerator, food-prep space
- Bathroom - working toilet, sink, and tub or shower, vented
- Walls, floors, ceilings - no large holes, cracks, or water damage
- Address visible - unit numbers the inspector can find
If it fails
A fail is a fix list, not a verdict.
The inspector leaves a list, you fix the items, a re-inspection gets scheduled. The real cost is the lost weeks - which is why we prep units against this checklist before the inspector ever knocks.
Landlords: the ten-minute version - test every detector, lock every window, tighten every railing, run every tap, and check for peeling paint. That catches most of what fails Newark units.