How to Prepare for an Inspection
The ten most commonly failed items – Ask yourself these questions:
- Do all doors in my unit close and/or latch properly? (includes sliding doors)
- Are doors weather-stripped and airtight?
- Are my kitchen sink, bathroom sink, and tub free of leaks, drips, etc.?
- Do all my windows have screens? And are they free of holes and tears?
- Do all the windows in my unit close properly? And do the windows that are accessible from the outside have working sturdy locks?
- Is there a smoke detector on every floor of my home (including the basement)? And do they all work properly? (includes batteries)
- Do all electrical outlets and light switches have covers? (and are not cracked)
- Do all my light switches and electrical outlets work?
- Are your floors free of “trip hazards” (tears, holes, loose edges, etc.)?
- Is the entire unit, both inside and outside, including window frames, free of cracking, scaling, peeling, chipping and lose paint?
If you answered “No” to any of these questions please correct the problem or contact your landlord so he/she can correct the problem before the inspection date if possible.
NOTE: these are not the only requirements units must meet to pass the inspection process. The list represents only what the inspectors have determined are the most common reasons units fail inspection.
Section 8 Tenant Responsibilities:
- Pay a full rental deposit to the landlord
- Pay their portion of the rent on time to the landlord
- Pay utility bills that are not included in the lease
- Comply with all lease provisions and keep their unit clean
- Report problems with the unit to their landlord immediately
- Comply with all program requirements
- Report changes in income or family composition to GMHA
- Cooperate with GMHA on inspections and re-certification appointments