Housing Quality Standards Inspection Checklist

What this inspection covers

A Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection assesses whether a unit is safe, sanitary, and in good repair before it is approved for tenancy. This checklist walks you through that assessment so you can find and fix deficiencies before the official inspection takes place, rather than after. It is typically used within 15 days of receiving a completed Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA), and it organises the work around unit readiness, utilities, appliances, safety systems, and structural condition. The 23 items are answered **Yes**, **No**, or **N/A**, giving you a record of what you checked and what needs attention. If you own or manage rental property, this is the gap-closing step: complete the checklist, correct what fails, and present a unit that is ready for the inspector.

Why it matters

An HQS inspection is a pass-or-fail event. A unit that is not fully prepared, or that has a non-functional utility, an unsafe appliance, or a missed safety device, can be rejected and delay the tenancy. Checking the unit yourself first means you control the timing. You can complete repairs and cleaning, re-test the items that failed, and schedule the official inspection once the unit genuinely meets the standard. The checklist gives you the same areas an inspector will examine, in one place, so nothing is overlooked in the run-up to the visit.

What a good inspection covers

**Unit readiness.** Confirm the unit is fully prepared and move-in ready, with all necessary repairs and cleaning completed. **Utilities.** Electricity, gas, and water must be connected, operational, and turned on for the duration of the inspection. **Appliances.** The stove and oven must be clean and fully operational, with every burner igniting without an external flame. The refrigerator must be present, clean, and holding adequate cooling temperatures for safe food storage. The heating system must provide sufficient warmth for the size of the unit, and wood stoves are not acceptable as a primary heat source. The water heater must be in proper working condition and correctly vented, with a temperature-pressure relief valve (TPRV) installed and its discharge line terminating within 12 inches above the floor or extending safely to the exterior. **Safety systems.** At least one operational, testable, and correctly installed smoke detector is needed on each floor level, including basements and common areas as applicable. Electrical hazards must be absent — non-functional GFCIs, missing or broken cover plates, hanging or loose fixtures, and exposed wiring all count against the unit. **Security and weather protection.** Exterior entry doors must be lockable, secure, and weather-tight, with no visible light gaps around the perimeter or threshold. **Pests.** The unit must be completely free from infestation by cockroaches, rodents, insects, or other vermin. **Windows.** Windows must function as designed: lockable, free from cracked or missing panes, able to stay open without props (for vertical windows), and weather-tight when closed. **Plumbing.** Both hot and cold running water are required, with adequate pressure at all fixtures, and no leaks, blockages, or drainage issues. **Structure and surfaces.** Ceilings and walls must be free from holes, cracks, water damage, bulging, and mildew. Floors and floor coverings must be structurally sound and free from tripping hazards, including raised edges, open seams, tears, exposed tack strips, and deteriorated underlayment. **Paint where young children live.** If a child under six resides or is expected to reside in the unit, and the building was constructed before 1978, there must be no peeling, cracking, chipping, or loose paint on any interior or exterior surface. **Grounds and common areas.** The interior and exterior, including surrounding grounds and common areas, must be free from excessive debris, refuse, and hazardous conditions.

How to carry out the inspection

1. Schedule the walkthrough within the window that follows the completed Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA). 2. Confirm repairs and cleaning are finished, and that the unit is move-in ready before you start recording answers. 3. Turn on and test electricity, gas, and water so they remain operational throughout the inspection. 4. Work through the 23 items, answering **Yes**, **No**, or **N/A**. Test rather than assume — ignite every burner, open and close the windows, operate the smoke detectors. 5. Record the location, the person preparing the checklist, and the inspection start and end dates, then sign and note the finish time. 6. Fix every **No** before the official inspection and re-check those items. Mark **N/A** only where the item genuinely does not apply to the unit.

Frequently Asked Questions

This checklist is typically used within 15 days of receiving a completed Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA), so the unit can be assessed before the official Housing Quality Standards inspection takes place.

Wait until all necessary repairs and cleaning are finished. The unit needs to be fully move-in ready at the time of inspection, with electricity, gas, and water connected, operational, and turned on for the duration of the inspection.

The checklist covers unit readiness, utility functionality, appliance condition, safety systems, and structural integrity — the areas a Housing Quality Standards inspection examines.

Each of the 23 items is answered Yes, No, or N/A. Recording N/A keeps the record accurate where an item does not apply to the unit.

Correct any defect you find and re-check the unit before the inspector arrives, so the unit is fully prepared and compliant.

Written by

Arne Reis

Founder

Process optimizer with 25 years of expertise, focused on operational excellence in quality, maintenance, EHS, and commissioning. Emphasizes innovative solutions and top-quality standards.

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