We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for REAC require REAC to develop and implement written policies and procedures requiring REAC to (1) select a sample of inspector candidates, (2) require the sampled inspector candidates to provide written documentation supporting their minimum qualifications, (3) verify the written documentation provided by the inspector candidates, and (4) document the completion of the verification and method(s) used to verify the documentation.
Publication Report
2018-FW-0003 | August 31, 2018
REAC Could Improve Its Inspections Processes and Controls
We audited the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Real Estate Assessment Center’s (REAC) inspections process. We initiated this audit in accordance with our annual audit plan. Our objective was to determine whether REAC… moreRelated Recommendations
Public and Indian Housing
We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for REAC require REAC to ensure that the nine contract inspectors, who did not meet the minimum requirements to begin the training, receive specialized training in residential or commercial building for electrical; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; masonry; plumbing; and carpentry, as applicable.
We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for REAC require REAC to develop, use, and document an electronic checklist for each contract inspector’s file to ensure that inspectors (1) obtain and maintain the required insurance, and (2) have approved background checks before conducting inspections. In addition, support that the three sampled inspectors meet the minimum insurance limits for the current effective periods.
We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for REAC require REAC to execute administrative action related to outside standards determinations for five inspectors.
We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for REAC require REAC to develop and implement processes and procedures, in accordance with its system security plan and the HUD Handbook, Information Technology Security Policy, to ensure that annual assessments and continuous monitoring of the security controls are performed and that security control failures are prevented and corrected when identified.
We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for REAC require REAC to establish and implement written processes and procedures to verify the accuracy of the unit numbers sampled and entered for inspection by the inspector, which could include requiring (1) inspectors to upload a picture of the rent roll to the data collection device, (2) housing agencies to maintain a copy of the rent roll used, and (3) inspectors and public housing agencies to sign a certification stating that the units were inspected in accordance with the sample generated by the data collection device.