Prioritize the inspection of public housing properties that were (1) not included in the NSPIRE demonstration but were identified as high priority under the Center’s Big Inspection Plan and (2) approved to participate under the NSPIRE demonstration that the Center was unable to inspect by March 31, 2023.
Publication Report
2023-CH-0003 | May 23, 2023
Improvements Are Needed To Ensure That Public Housing Properties Are Inspected in a Timely Manner
We audited the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Real Estate Assessment Center’s inspection process. The audit objectives were to determine whether the Center (1) ensured that public housing properties were inspected within… moreRelated Recommendations
Public and Indian Housing
- Status2023-CH-0003-001-BOpenClosedPriorityPriority
We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.
Implement adequate policies, procedures, and controls to ensure that public housing properties will be inspected within required timeframes.
Status
NSPIRE regulations clarified and modified the timing for which inspections should occur. The date for inspection of each public housing property must then be programmed into HUD's system to ensure that inspections occur within the required timeframes. The Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) continues to work with its management and system support contractors on the list of public housing properties to inspect and the date the inspections should be completed under the new NSPIRE regulations. REAC is in the process of adjusting the list based on information relating to small, rural public housing. As of November 2024, the NSPIRE regulations on inspection timing are completed. However, REAC is not able to make the required modifications in the NSPIRE system to enforce the regulatory guidelines. REAC previously indicated that new IT funding is needed to make the system modifications but had not provided information about whether additional funding has been allocated. The final action target date was revised from May 31, 2024, to September 30, 2025.
Analysis
To fully address this recommendation, HUD must provide evidence demonstrating that it has implemented control activities that ensure public housing properties are inspected within the required timeframes.
Implementation of this recommendation will result in HUD accurately tracking the dates on which public housing properties should be inspected and that they are timely completed. Due to the uncertainty of when software changes to NSPIRE can take place to enforce the timing of inspections, REAC cannot enforce the requirements of inspection timing.