Inspection FAQs: There has been a fire/flood or structural damage in my unit. What do I do?

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 tenant first. Units in which are not within HQS may result in termination of payments or termination in the HAP contract.

There has been a fire/flood or structural damage in my unit. What do I do?

The first step is to call 911 in the event of a fire or disaster. Our agency will then need a fire report from the fire department or applicable agency regarding the damage. We will conduct an inspection within 24 hours of receiving the report. If the inspection reveals the unit is uninhabitable, you will be issued a new voucher and allowed to relocate. If the unit is still habitable, the owner will be given time to make repairs and should communicate this to you. The time will vary depending on the condition of the unit for the repairs.