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UPCS Training - Stay REAC Ready for HUD's New COVID waivers and NSPIRE
A Major Change to the REAC Inspection is COMING - ARE YOU REAC READY AND NSPIRED? HUD plans to implement the following changes in 2021:
14 Day Notice
In 2019 HUD drastically reduced the notice for REAC inspections for private and multifamily housing. HUD's new standard provides PHAs and private owners of HUD assisted housing 14 calendar days' notice before an inspection. This is a huge reduction from the previous 90 to 180 day notice. Over time this will change the way that inspections are assigned to the contract REAC Inspectors. The current practice is via the Reverse Auction which is likely to go away for some or all segments of the REAC inspections by 2022 and roll into NSPIRE. The plan is for HUD to issue limited delivery contracts to a few larger nationwide inspection companies which will then employ the contract inspectors. This is similar to what APC started with in 1998. And, just to note in the REAC pilot program in 1998 we were only required to give the property a 10 days' notice.
Inspection Scoring
APC has learned from REAC, there is a plan to change the Unit scoring value to 50% - 65% of the property score. The Unit scoring is currently only 35%. The plan is that the other four inspectable areas would be combined into two areas to "simplify" the scoring: Outside and Inside. Site, Building Exterior, outdoor Common Areas and outdoor Building Systems would be combined to "Outside." Interior Building Systems and interior Common Areas would be combined to "Inside." Thus, there would be only 3 inspectable areas left for the scoring: Unit, Outside, and Inside. This will take a congressional action to change since the current scoring system is mandated by federal law.
Self-Inspections
Currently, the UPCS-V pilot (conversion from HQS inspection) has developed a successful handheld/software solution that inspectors use to report annual/biannual inspection results directly to HUD. In fact, during the recent government shutdown, UPCS-V pilot program inspections continued and over 3,500 inspections were completed during the shutdown. A similar initiative is being considered to develop software for the properties to do their annual UPCS inspections and upload the data to HUD for "analysis of the data." This information may then feed into the periodicity of the REAC inspection. Since 2019 is also a pivotal year for the conversion of HQS to UPCS-V, the expectation is that this UPCS self-Inspection initiative is further down the road. Although, a parallel effort would align the inspection protocols between UPCS and UPCS-V, which has been a REAC strategic goal for a long time.
These changes will ensure that properties are in a continuous state of full readiness and compliance. APC is the leader when it comes to these NEW CHANGES. We have been tracking them since they were first proposed.
APC expanded its UPCS knowledge beyond the basic inspection and is versed in all aspects of the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) Physical Inspection Subsystem (PASS). We have incorporated our knowledge and inspection experience into a comprehensive UPCS training program which focuses on improving your physical score.
- A clear understanding of UPCS definitions and identification of notable deficiencies with regards to building exteriors, building systems, common areas, and building interiors (units)
- A clear understanding and identification of UPCS Health and Safety Deficiencies
- Details of how to improve the PHAS Physical Indicator Score
- The UPCS inspection time line
- The REAC Inspectors Code of Conduct
- HUD Rules and Regulations Applicable to the REAC-UPCS and PHAS Physical Indicator
| Area | Max Point Loss |
|---|---|
| Site | 7.5 points |
| Building Exterior | 10 points |
| Building Systems | 10 points |
| Common Areas | 10 points |
| Dwelling Units | 5 points |
Uniform Physical Condition Standards
Two-Day Seminar Agenda (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- PHAS Introduction
- PASS Subsystems
- CFR Notices
- PASS Breakdown
- Standardizing Observations
- Classifying a Deficiency
- Planning the Inspection
- Conducting the Inspection
- HUD Software
- Forms
- Daily Functions
- Site
- Building Exterior
- Building Systems
- Common Areas
- Dwelling Units
- Health and Safety
- Inspection Results
- Appeals
UPCS Seminar – Information Request