New contract inspections are part of the leasing process.  The LACDA does not contact the tenant about the inspection process; it is the owner’s responsibility to determine if the unit is ready for inspection and to establish the inspection date.  Throughout the inspection process, you are encouraged to keep your prospective tenant informed.  We may contact the tenant to confirm the inspection date upon your request.

Note: Before we can conduct an inspection, the previous tenant or the owner must move out of the unit.  We will only inspect a unit if it is vacant, or occupied by the Section 8 tenant.  Changes in the unit condition may occur during the owner or previous tenant’s transition and may affect the unit’s inspection status.

Please be advised that the unit must have all utilities turned on and all appliances in place for the unit to pass the new contract inspection.  The refrigerator and stove in the unit at the time of inspection must be provided by the same person as stated on the lease.

An adult (18 years old or older) must be present for an inspection to take place. The LACDA strongly recommends the adult is either the owner or a tenant who can address questions the inspector may have about specific deficiencies.

Inspections are conducted between the hours of 7:00 am and 5:30 pm.  Due to the high volume of inspections that are scheduled daily, we cannot provide you with a specific time of day the inspector will arrive. On the day of the inspection appointment, however, if you call the telephone number on the inspection appointment letter, we may be able to give a window time frame in which you can expect the inspector.

The LACDA requires that assisted units are decent, safe, and sanitary in accordance with federal standards known as Housing Quality Standards (HQS).

Note: All utilities must be turned on and the appliances must be installed and in proper working condition at the time of inspection.  The stove and refrigerator present at the time of inspection must be provided by the person (owner or tenant) stated on the lease.

If your unit was built before 1978 and your household includes one or more children under six years old, inspectors will conduct a Lead-Based Paint visual assessment to make sure that paint is maintained and does not pose a potential health hazard.

The LACDA's inspection must include the unit site and any common areas of the property.  We must ensure the property does not pose a danger to the health or safety of assisted families.  Therefore, garages must be accessible for the inspection.  Inspectors will evaluate garages for occupancy and HQS.

If you are present at the inspection, the inspector will verbally inform you of the results of the inspection.  You may retrieve a copy of your inspection report by accessing our Owner Portal located on the menu.

The inspection report indicates the overall inspection result (pass or fail), and provides details on any unit deficiency (fail) items, including identifying the party (owner or tenant) responsible for correcting the deficiency.  We strongly encourage owners to attend inspections whenever possible.  This may help to identify specific deficiency items, and to clarify responsibility between owner and tenant responsibilities.

If the unit does not pass inspection, a copy of the inspection report that identifies the deficiencies requiring your attention is mailed to you, along with an appointment notice for a follow-up inspection.  If the inspection is for a new contract, we will try to reach you by telephone to expedite the process.

Note: All inspection results are subject to a supervisor’s review.

If the unit fails an inspection, the deficiencies must be corrected before the next inspection appointment.  For new contracts, the follow-up inspection is scheduled as soon as possible.  If you are present at the time of the failed initial inspection, you may schedule the follow-up with the inspector at that time. Owners are usually responsible for correcting deficiencies for new contract inspections.

For biennial inspections, the party responsible for correcting deficiencies will be identified on the inspection report.  The follow-up inspection will usually be scheduled no more than 21-28 days after the initial inspection, to allow you, and the tenant, adequate time to make the necessary corrections to the unit.

The rules on this subject are governed by State law and not by the LACDA.  Please refer to the California Tenant Guidebook from the State of California.

If an assisted unit fails two consecutive inspections for owner-related deficiencies, Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) will be withheld (abated) starting on the first of the month following the second owner-caused failed inspection.  Payments will not be refunded for the period that the unit is on abatement, and they will not resume until the deficiencies are corrected and the unit passes inspection.

If your payments have been abated because of failed inspections, you may call the telephone number on your inspection appointment notices for specific information on your abatement case.

Housing built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint.  Lead from paint, paint chips, and dust can pose health hazards if not managed properly.  Lead exposure is especially harmful to young children. The effects of lead poisoning are irreversible, but lead poisoning is preventable.

If your unit was built before 1978, and houses a child under six years old, you are responsible for maintaining the unit, quickly repairing defective paint, and following safe work practices when making repairs. 

For additional resources, you may wish to visit the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes website or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lead website.