Inspection Issues and FAQs

For an apartment to be leased by a Metro Housing|Boston Section 8 voucher holder, the apartment must meet the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and the supplemental inspection requirements of the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). For this reason, it is important to address inspectional issues accordingly as they are occurring and address matters with the owner first. Units in which are not within HQS may result in termination of payments or termination of the voucher program.

What is Metro Housing|Boston’s role when it comes to issues with the tenants and owners and their unit?

Metro Housing|Boston’s role is program administration and confirming units meet Housing Quality Standards in order to release housing assistance payments to the owner. Our role is not property management or lease enforcement, communication to the owner on behalf of the tenant or case work. Our HAP Contract is between our agency and the owner, while the voucher is between the participant/tenant and our agency. The lease which is legally binding contract, is only between the owner and participant/tenant.

For more specific inspections issues, click on the links below:

• Infestation
• My unit is damaged
• Fire/floor/uninhabited unit
• There is mold in my unit
• Broken door/window
• Utility shut off
• Broken appliances in my unit