Services
National Housing Services can train and assist property and staff before, doing and after any state and federally mandated property inspections. Our experienced staff provides the knowledge and confidence to achieve the best possible outcome for upcoming inspections while reducing any unnecessary stress on property staff and owners.
NHS has tailored a UPCS training program for the maintenance staff of properties subject to these inspections. The training provides the staff with an understanding of the protocol, preparing the property, prioritizing of repairs and the HUD inspection procedure.
The training is a one day class on the property’s site. The morning consist of in-class instruction with a power-point presentation, the afternoon is a hands-on mock pre-inspection of your property concluding with a Q and A session. Participants will receive a copy of our quick reference guide with the complete UPCS protocol and pictures that will help better understand the protocol.
These classes are best suited for a maximum of 10 participants. The cost for the 1-day class is only $1,600*
*Travel related costs are additional
NHS works with property management teams to create tailored inspection procedures and sound solutions to avoid the most common deficiencies. This service usually requires that we conduct either a 100% UPCS Unit or Pre-REAC inspection so that we can better pinpoint the weakness of the property. Based on our findings and the procedures already in place, we will recommend changes or additions to current procedures that will improve the overall physical condition of the property and the REAC score.
Our service is affordable and usually saves the property money longer term .
NHS will provide an escort who is also a Certified UPCS inspector, to shadow the REAC inspector for the inspection. The purpose is to assure that the inspection flows smoothly and that the inspector conducts it within the guidelines of the UPCS protocol. The escort documents any deficiencies that may be appealed at a later time. The escort will however not argue or ‘play games’ with the inspector.
There are many reasons to consider our shadowing service. The more compelling examples are if you are having an enforcement inspection due to past year’s poor scores or at risk of losing your HAP contract.
- Data-Base adjustment – This is for cases where you were cited for a deficiency that is allowed or required by your local or state codes. Although there are many cases where data-base adjustments should be filed, my favorite is for health care facilities. Here in New Jersey, these facilities are required by the state to only allow client room windows to open 6” but when we conduct UPCS inspections and find that stops have been installed on the windows, we cite the properties for a Health and Safety Blocked Egress. If they remove the stops as HUD requires, the state fines the facility.
- Technical Review – These are commonly filed when there is inspector error or contracts in place prior to the inspection addressing cited deficiencies. The UPCS inspections are a snapshot in time documenting the physical condition on the day of the inspection and your property will be cited for deficiencies arising as a result of work in progress.
Filing an appeal is a one shot deal. It is important to understand that certain legitimate appeals will not be considered by HUD if the re-instatement of the lost points will not bring the score to one of the following thresholds: 60, 80 or 90. In other words, if the REAC score was a 62 and the appeal would get the property back 15 points to a score of 77, the appeal will not be considered.
NHS provides our clients with a complementary review of their inspection report to determine if an appeal should be considered. We will work with the property to obtain all the required documents for a successful appeal.