We audited the Loudoun County Department of Family Services’ Housing Choice Voucher program because (1) we received a complaint alleging housing quality standards problems with a housing unit participating in the County’s program, (2) the County had 688 vouchers and received more than $6.4 million in fiscal year 2016, and (3) we had not audited its program.  Our audit objective was to determine whether the County ensured that its Housing Choice Voucher program units met the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) housing quality standards.

The County did not always ensure that its program units met housing quality standards.  The allegation in the complaint had merit.  The County’s housing quality standards inspection process needs improvement.  Of 15 program units inspected, 11 did not meet HUD’s housing quality standards.  Most of the violations identified could be easily corrected.  However, 1 of the 11 units was in material noncompliance with housing quality standards.  The County disbursed $9,660 in housing assistance payments and received $55 in administrative fees for this unit.

We recommend that HUD require the County to (1) certify, along with the owners of the 11 units cited in the finding, that the applicable housing quality standards violations have been corrected; (2) reimburse its program $9,715 from non-Federal funds for the unit that materially failed to meet HUD’s housing quality standards; and (3) provide training to its inspectors on conducting housing quality standards inspections.