2021-00098: Economic Growth Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act: Implementation of National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE)

Summary

This rule proposes a new approach to defining and assessing housing quality: The National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE). This proposed rule is part of a broader effort across HUD to revise the way HUD-assisted housing is inspected and evaluated. The purpose of NSPIRE is to reduce regulatory burden and improve HUD oversight through the alignment and consolidation of the inspection regulations used to evaluate HUD housing across multiple programs, which are currently evaluating housing quality through differing standards, protocols, and frequencies. The goal of this alignment and consolidation is to create a unified assessment of housing quality. In advancement of HUD's mission to create quality affordable housing and strong, sustainable, and inclusive communities, this rule would establish the method HUD will use for the implementation of specific NSPIRE standards, scoring, and processes through Federal Register notices. Additionally, the proposed rule seeks to apply a "safe, habitable dwellings" standard; reduce the categories of current inspectable areas for physical condition standards for covered housing programs from five to three; implement a new annual self-inspection and reporting requirement for certain HUD housing; establish an administrative process for the treatment of health and safety deficiencies; and incorporate provisions of the Economic Growth and Recovery, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act that will reduce administrative burden on small rural PHAs.

The agency’s own summary, as published.

What this changes

Amends 15 parts of the Code of Federal Regulations — the standing rules this notice rewrites.

• 24 CFR 5 General HUD Program Requirements; Waivers
• 24 CFR 92 Home Investment Partnerships Program
• 24 CFR 93 Housing Trust Fund
• 24 CFR 200 Introduction to FHA Programs
• 24 CFR 574 Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS
• 24 CFR 576 Emergency Solutions Grants Program
• 24 CFR 578 Continuum of Care Program
• 24 CFR 880 Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Program for New Construction
• 24 CFR 882 Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Programs
• 24 CFR 884 Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Program, New Construction Set-Aside for Section 515 Rural Rental Housing Projects
• 24 CFR 886 Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Program—Special Allocations
• 24 CFR 902 Public Housing Assessment System
• 24 CFR 982 Section 8 Tenant-Based Assistance: Housing Choice Voucher Program
• 24 CFR 983 Project-Based Voucher (PBV) Program
• 24 CFR 985 Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) and Small Rural PHA Assessments