Checklist · Property manager
HQS pre-inspection checklist for Section 8 units
Find what would fail before the PHA inspector does. Before a housing authority inspects a Section 8 unit, walk it yourself against the same areas. The checklist below is Sitesui's Section 8 / HQS template: a practical pre-inspection modeled on the Housing Quality Standards areas — not the PHA's own form, and not a substitute for it. In the app each failing item becomes a work order so the fix is scheduled before the visit; a re-inspection then proves it.
13 items in 6 areas · the built-in “Section 8 / HQS” template, as it ships
How to run it
Three passes, in walking order
Exterior and structure
Foundation, roof and exterior walls; windows and doors that close and lock.
Room by room
Living room ceiling, walls, floor and outlets; stove, refrigerator, sink and food-prep space; a flushing toilet, tub or shower, sink and ventilation.
Health, safety and utilities
Working smoke detectors, no lead-paint hazards, two means of egress; heat, water heater and plumbing. Photograph the detector with its light on.
The checklist
Section 8 / HQS
HUD Housing Quality Standards checklist.
Built-in template, as it ships · reviewed against the app on 2026-09-18
| Building exterior | Good | Fair | Poor | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation & structure | ||||
| Roof & exterior walls | ||||
| Windows & doors secure |
| Living room | Good | Fair | Poor | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceiling, walls & floor | ||||
| Electrical & outlets |
| Kitchen | Good | Fair | Poor | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stove / oven & refrigerator | ||||
| Sink & food-prep space |
| Bathroom | Good | Fair | Poor | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flush toilet & tub/shower | ||||
| Sink & ventilation |
| Health & safety | Good | Fair | Poor | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke detectors | ||||
| No lead-paint hazards | ||||
| Two means of egress |
| Utilities | Good | Fair | Poor | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heating, water heater & plumbing |
In the app an item can also answer as pass/fail, done/not done or a number, and any Fair or Poor item becomes a work order in one tap. The PDF prints the checklist as shown, with a notes line per item and a signature block.
The finished report
Complete the walk and the PDF exists
Every item with its rating, notes and photos; an action-items table by priority; signatures captured on the phone or through a link. No export step. See a finished one before you sign up.
Built for property managers
Property manager
Move-ins, move-outs, routine walks, turnovers — and the vendors who keep the units running.
Pick “Property manager” at signup — or start from this page and it's already picked — and the app leads with this template and speaks the trade's words.
Questions
HQS pre-inspection: what people ask
Is HQS still used, or is it NSPIRE now?
HUD is moving the voucher program from HQS to NSPIRE, and the timing has varied by program and housing authority. Ask your PHA which standard it inspects to today. The areas overlap heavily, and the template's items can be edited to match the standard you're held to.
Is this the official HUD form?
No. It is a pre-inspection checklist modeled on the HQS areas, meant to catch what commonly fails. Your PHA's form and inspector decide the result.
Which items fail most?
In practice: smoke detectors missing or dead, outlets without GFCI protection or with open grounds, broken window locks, water heater relief valve problems, peeling paint in pre-1978 units, and a second egress that's blocked.
More checklists
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