Federal law requires CHA to inspect apartments to make sure that the rent being charged is reasonable given an apartment's condition and amenities.  There are two types of inspections:

INITIAL INSPECTIONS
Before CHA agrees to enter into a contract with an owner to help pay a voucher holder's rent, federal law requires us to take a look at it to make sure it's worth the rent the owner is requesting.  The inspections are quick, scheduled at owners' convenience and free.

CHA's inspector simply makes sure that the unit is safe and sanitary and that the rent is reasonable before a voucher holder can move in. In addition to CHA's inspection, the City of Cambridge's Inspectional Services Department also inspects the unit to make sure it meets state and city code. In most cases, CHA will not allow voucher holders to move into an apartment until it passes initial inspection.


PERIODIC REINSPECTIONS
Federal law also requires CHA to periodically reinspect voucher holders' units to make sure that owners and voucher holders are each doing their part to keep their units clean and safe.  Reinspections also provide CHA an opportunity to make sure that rents paid are reasonable given each apartment's location, condition, amenities and the local rental market.

In 2007, CHA adopted new inspection policies designed to reduce the number of reinspections CHA conducts without affecting the quality of voucher holders' apartments. The new inspection policies rely on a sampling of rented units in large buildings with many subsidized units, and inspections every other year for owners with just a few units in Leased Housing program. 


REQUESTING INSPECTIONS
Since CHA does not inspect each unit every year, it is important that voucher holders let us know when there are problems with their apartments.  CHA encourages voucher holders to let their landlords know, in writing, when there is something in their apartment that needs repair.  We strongly recommend that voucher holders send us a copy of any correspondences with landlords so that we know when issues arise.

When landlords don't respond to repair requests, or if voucher holders feel that the repairs are insufficient, CHA encourages them to contact CHA's Leased Housing Department to request a Special Inspection.  Since CHA is often paying most of the rent for a voucher holder's apartment, we can help make sure that owners are keeping their units in good shape.