Things to consider when viewing a prospective unit:

Housing Quality Standards (HQS)

Every House, mobile home or apartment must have at least a living room, kitchen and bathroom plus an adequate number of bedrooms as required by Federal Regulation.

All rooms must have at least one electrical outlet and one permanent overhead light fixture or two electrical outlets. The bathroom must have only an overhead or wall light fixture, which is permanently installed.

All bedrooms and the living room must have a window.

All ceilings, walls and flooring must be in a good condition with no tripping hazards or peeling paint.

All doors and windows must be in good condition and those accessible from the outside must be lockable.

The bathroom must have a window that opens or a working exhaust fan. The tub/shower, sink and toilet must be workable and
in good condition.

The cooking stove, oven and refrigerator must be in proper working order and be a suitable size for the family. In some cases a microwave oven may be substituted for a cooking stove.

The furnace, water heater, plumbing, electrical services, foundations and exterior of the building must be in suitable condition
and proper working order. Exterior paint must not be peeling.

A properly working smoke detector must be present near each area used for sleeping and/or on each floor of the unit.

Mobile homes must be placed on the site in a suitable manner and be properly tied down to prevent the hazards of wind damage or sliding.

Each unit must have two exits. A window that opens and is of sufficient size an meet this requirement.

If you feel all requirements are met or if the owner is willing to make repairs or adjustments and you wish to reside in this unit, contact the housing authority before you depsoit any money in order to determine if the unit meets all fo the required standards.

The Request for Lease Approval and Unit Information sheet must be completed and submitted to VHA before an inspection will be conducted.