Inspection Information

HOUSING INSPECTION CHECKLIST

General Items For The Entire Unit

• There needs to be at least one working smoke detector on each level of the unit
• Floors cannot have any tripping hazards such as carpet that needs to be tacked down, large holes in the floor covering or missing flooring
• Ceilings must not have any large cracks or holes, no severe bulging or large amounts of loose or falling surface area
• Walls must not have any large cracks or holes, no severe bulging or large amounts of loose or falling surface area
• For security purposes all doors and windows that are accessible from the outside or that open, must have working locks
• No chipping or peeling paint anywhere on the inside or outside of the unit (This includes any fences, sheds, eaves, and window sills)
• There must be handrails on the inside or outside of the unit where ever there are four or more steps, handrails must be secure
• Exterior walls and foundation must be in good condition with no large cracks or holes
• Plumbing and pipes must be in good condition and connected to an approved sewage disposal system
• Water heater must be in working condition with a drain line or discharge pipe coming off of the pressure relief valve to within about 6″ of the floor
• There must be enough heating equipment so the unit is warm during cold months.  Oil and gas space heaters that are not vented to the outside are not acceptable
• There must be at least two fire exits (Doors and windows count)
• Must be a safe neighborhood – no dangerous places, spaces, or things
• No large piles of trash, debris, or garbage inside or outside of the unit
• No serious pollution inside or outside of the unit such as exhaust fumes or sewer gas
• There must not be any signs of infestation such as rats, mice, roaches, spiders, mice droppings, etc.
• All windows in the unit must be free from signs of severe deterioration. There also must not be any missing, broken, or cracked panes
• Roof must be in good condition and must not leak
• All outlet and light switch covers must not be missing, broken, or cracked, and must be securely fastened  to the wall
• There must be a dryer vent cover over the outside dryer vent
• There must be a lid over the outside garbage can(s), or both lids must be present on any dumpster
• For any sink in the unit there cannot be any leaks coming out of the pipes
• All storage units on the unit property must have some kind of working lock
• Mobile homes must have tie downs connecting the mobile home unit to the cement pad underneath

The Living Room

• There must be at least two working outlets or one working outlet and one working permanently installed light fixture
• There must be at least one window

The Kitchen

• There must be at least one working outlet and one working permanently installed light fixture
• Stove or range must have all of the burners working.  There must be a working oven.  Both the range and oven must have all of the knobs and handles intact.
• Working refrigerator with a door on the freezer compartment that shuts securely.  Refrigerator must have all of the handles and a kick-plate secure and intact
• Working sink with hot and cold running water

The Bathroom

• There must be at least one permanently installed light fixture
• Working toilet in the unit that has some kind of lid or cover over the toilet tank
• Permanently installed wash basin with hot and cold running water
• Tub or shower with hot and cold running water
• Working exhaust vent system or at least one window which will open and lock

For All Bedrooms

• There must be at least two working outlets or one working outlet and one working permanently installed light fixture
• At least one window which opens and locks

For All Other Rooms

• There must be a means of natural light or there must be something such as a window, a working outlet, or a permanently installed light fixture
• Remember, a unit can only be inspected if it is empty or if you (the tenant) are living there.
• Have an adult at the unit when the inspector comes to inspect.
• Be aware that the unit must be ready for the inspection, this includes having the utilities turned on in the unit (Gas, Electricity, and Water).

The Pressure-Temperature Relief Valve