Guidelines for Initial Inspections of HAPP Vouchers 01/05/2026

10 Guidelines for Initial Inspections for HAPP Vouchers 01 05 2 6 ? All property addr esses must be clearly marked from the road , and on the unit itself ? Ext erior door frames must be intact and in good working condition , be able to lock securely , fr ee of rot , and se cured without large gap s , light around the frame etc Transitions at the base of the frame mus t be secu re , lev el , and free of rot or movement All deadbolts must have a thumb latch ? All windows must function properly , lock and have a minimum of 1 screen per room it is preferred all windows have a screen but 1 per room will be accepted Framing must be in good condition without rot No broken glass , or missing glazing in windows and doors ? All outlets and light switches both interior and exterior must work properly Cover plates cannot be cracked , broken or missing Outlets cannot be obstructed or painted over ? GF I outlets must be installed in all water areas bathroom & kitchen ? All light fixtures both interior and exterior must be working and have a safety cover globe ? All burners must work properly on stove including oven and broiler All knobs and handles must be intact and not broken or missing ? Range hood fan must be working and have a safety cover or filter ? Refrigerator must cool freeze as intended Handles and s helves to be in good working order Seals gaskets should be intact and not missing , torn , or cracked ? Cabin ets and drawers in kitchens and bathrooms should all operate properly – no missing door s or drawers ? Kitchen and bathroom faucets and shower tubs should work as intended and have both hot and cold water and be free from leaks and clogs Sprayers , shower hea ds and diverters should all be in good working order Sinks & tubs should have a working drain plug or a rubber stopper No missing faucet knobs handles ? Commodes must flush and refill properly and be free of leaks around base and tank No missing broken ha ndles ? Bathrooms either need a working window with a screen or a properly installed and operating vent fan ? Proper flooring must be installed in each room no bare plywood In order to not be a tripping hazard flooring should be in good condition and not be too frayed , torn , warped or buckled up Missing or severely damaged transitions should also be fixed ? All bedrooms and bathrooms must have a door , and they must be able to lock ? All doors to include closet and bifold doors must work as intended and have proper hardware that is also in good working order ? Ceilings must be in good co ndition with no leaks , stains , falling debris , holes or missing tiles ? At least ONE working smoking detector per floor must be installed Two or more per floor are preferred in case one fails there is a back up Newer construction requires at least one in the main living a rea then one per bedroom Page? If home has any type of fossil fuel heat - stove , furnace , water heater , fireplace etc then at least one Carbon Monoxide Detector is to be installed per floor If there is no fossil fuel then just one CO detector is required per property As with the smoke detectors two or more are preferred for safety Dual CO Smoke Detectors are acceptable ? All panel boxes must have a proper door and safety cover No missing open holes No broken or burned out breakers No tape ? All stairs both interior and exterior with more than 3 steps must have a handrail Handrails shou ld be securely fastened and not loose , broken or wobbly No missing balusters spindles Steps should be in good stable working condition No visible rot or deterioration ? Porches and decks at least 30 inches and higher must have proper railing which is firm ly secured and not be missing balusters spindles No missing , rotten or splintered wood on deck , porches , steps or railings ? No significant peeling chipping paint , especially in homes built prior to 1979 if tenant has children 6 years and younger In homes built in 1979 and after peeling chipping paint both interior and exterior should minimal Only minimal siding rot and deterioration is acceptable ? Excessive dirt , mold and mildew on exterior of unit should be cleaned off or pressure washed when needed or every 2 - 3 years as part of your preventative maintenance plan ? No areas of rotten or bare untreated wood on the exterior of the home to include siding , window frames , and door frames Any loose and hanging wood or siding should be reattached properly ? Roof should be in good condition and free of leaks and rot Gutters should be clean and in good condition ? Foundation should be in good stable condition and not crumbling , severely cracked , missing vents , or left open to the elements and vermin Manufactured homes should have under pinning in good working condition and properly installed ? Storms doors are not required but if they are installed they must be in proper working condition with a working handle , catch and closer No missing screens or broken glass ? Sidewalks and driveways should be in good working order No trip hazards or large holes ? No tras h , debris or excessive storage of items around or inside the unit to include on porches and decks Lawns must be properly cut & maintained and free of hazardous debris No untagged or junk vehicles ? No visible infestation of any type to include roaches , mic e , rats , bed bugs , termites , fire ants e tc ? Bushes , vines , tree limbs and other vegetation should be cut away from the structure by at least 18 inches No vines growing on the siding , porches , etc ? Must have adequate working heat and air conditioning throughout the entire interior space NO unvented space heaters are allowed Electric portable heaters should n ot be used as a primary heat source and should only be use d with ext reme caution as a supplemental temporary heat source ? Hot water heaters must have proper installation of wiring and plumbing The pipe on the pressure relief valve must run down to within 4 inches or less from the floor , or be plumbed to the outsid e to avoid scalding ? Obviously no property is able to be kept 100 bug free However , it’s important to take steps to keep pests to a minimum through a preventative approach both inside and outside the home Your tenant should be your partner in accomplishi ng these goals This list is not all inclusive but is a good working guideline for Landlords to follow not only in preparing for your initial HAPP Inspection but also to be used in educating your Tenants on what to expect during their Annual Re - inspecti ons each year Page