What are Housing Quality Standards (HQS) under Section 8?
Units are inspected by HPD prior to lease up and re-inspected on an annual basis to ensure compliance with federal Housing Quality Standards (HQS). These standards establish a minimum basis for habitability and must be maintained in order for the owner to receive monthly Housing Assistance Payments. There are 13 performance standards for HQS, in addition to local requirements. The following list includes the performance areas for HQS, and an example of the standards that must be met. The list below illustrates examples of Housing Quality Standards.
