Housing Quality Standards (HQS).

Directive Number: 24 CFR 982.401

(a) Performance and acceptability requirements. (1) This section states the housing quality standards (HQS) for 
housing assisted in the programs.

(2)(i) The HQS consist of:

(A) Performance requirements; and

(B) Acceptability criteria or HUD approved variations in the acceptability criteria.

(ii) This section states performance and acceptability criteria for these key aspects of housing quality:

               (A) Sanitary facilities;

               (B) Food preparation and refuse disposal;

               (C) Space and security;

               (D) Thermal environment;

               (E) Illumination and electricity;

               (F) Structure and materials;

               (G) Interior air quality;

               (H) Water supply;

               (I) Lead-based paint;

               (J) Access;

               (K) Site and neighborhood;

               (L) Sanitary condition; and

               (M) Smoke detectors.

(3) All program housing must meet the HQS performance requirements both at commencement of assisted occupancy, and 
throughout the assisted tenancy.

(4)(i) In addition to meeting HQS performance requirements, the housing must meet the acceptability criteria stated in this 
section, unless variations are approved by HUD.

(ii) HUD may approve acceptability criteria variations for the following purposes:

(A) Variations which apply standards in local housing codes or other codes adopted by the PHA; or

(B) Variations because of local climatic or geographic conditions.

(iii) Acceptability criteria variations may only be approved by HUD pursuant to paragraph (a)(4)(ii) of this section if such 
variations either:

(A) Meet or exceed the performance requirements; or  

(B) Significantly expand affordable housing opportunities for families assisted under the program.

 (iv) HUD will not approve any acceptability criteria variation if HUD believes that such variation is likely to adversely 
affect the health or safety of participant families, or severely restrict housing choice.

(b) Sanitary facilities-(1) Performance requirements. The dwelling unit must include sanitary facilities

located in the unit. The sanitary facilities must be in proper operating condition, and adequate for personal cleanliness and 
the disposal of human waste. The sanitary facilities must be usable in privacy.

(2) Acceptability criteria. (i) The bathroom must be located in a separate private room and have a flush toilet in proper 
operating condition. 

(ii) The dwelling unit must have a fixed basin in proper operating condition, with a sink trap and hot and cold running water.

(iii) The dwelling unit must have a shower or a tub in proper operating condition with hot and cold running water.

(iv) The facilities must utilize an approvable public or private disposal system (including a locally approvable septic system).

(c) Food preparation and refuse disposal-

(1) Performance requirement. (i) The dwelling unit must have suitable space and equipment to store, prepare, and serve 
foods in a sanitary manner.

(ii) There must be adequate facilities and services for the sanitary disposal of food wastes and refuse, including facilities for 
temporary storage where necessary (e.g, garbage cans).

(2) Acceptability criteria. (i) The dwelling unit must have an oven, and a stove or range, and a refrigerator of appropriate 
size for the family. All of the equipment must be in proper operating condition. The equipment may be supplied by either the 
owner or the family. A microwave oven may be substituted for a tenant-supplied oven and stove or range. A microwave oven 
may be substituted for an owner-supplied oven and stove or range if the tenant agrees and microwave ovens are furnished 
instead of an oven and stove or range to both subsidized and unsubsidized tenants in the building or premises.

(ii) The dwelling unit must have a kitchen sink in proper operating condition, with a sink trap and hot and cold running water. 
The sink must drain into an approvable public or private system.

(iii) The dwelling unit must have space for the storage, preparation, and serving of food.

(iv) There must be facilities and services for the sanitary disposal of food waste and refuse, including temporary storage 
facilities where necessary (e.g., garbage cans).

(d) Space and security - (1) Performance requirement. The dwelling unit must provide adequate space and

security for the family.

(2) Acceptability criteria. (i) At a minimum, the dwelling unit must have a living room, a kitchen area, and a bathroom.

(ii) The dwelling unit must have at least one bedroom or living/sleeping room for each two persons. Children of opposite sex,

other than very young children, may not be required to occupy the same bedroom or living/sleeping room.

(iii) Dwelling unit windows that are accessible from the outside, such as basement, first floor, and fire escape windows, must 
be lockable (such as window units with sash pins or sash locks, and combination windows with latches). Windows that are 
nailed shut are acceptable only if these windows are not needed for ventilation or as an alternate exit in case of fire.

(iv) The exterior doors of the dwelling unit must be lockable. Exterior doors are doors by which someone can enter or exit 
the dwelling unit.

(e) Thermal environment-(1) Performance requirement. The dwelling unit must have and be capable of maintaining

a thermal environment healthy for the human body. 

(2) Acceptability criteria. (i) There must be a safe system for heating the dwelling unit (and a safe cooling system, where

present). The system must be in proper operating condition. The system must be able to provide adequate heat (and cooling, 
if applicable), either directly or indirectly, to each room, in order to assure a healthy living environment appropriate to the 
climate.

(ii) The dwelling unit must not contain unvented room heaters that burn gas, oil, or kerosene. Electric heaters are acceptable.

(f) Illumination and electricity-(1) Performance requirement. Each room must have adequate natural or artificial

illumination to permit normal indoor activities and to support the health and safety of occupants. The dwelling unit must 
have sufficient electrical sources so occupants can use essential electrical appliances. The electrical fixtures and wiring 
must ensure safety from fire.

(2) Acceptability criteria. (i) There must be at least one window in the living room and in each sleeping room.

(ii) The kitchen area and the bathroom must have a permanent ceiling or wall light fixture in proper operating condition. 
The kitchen area must also have at least one electrical outlet in proper operating condition.

(iii) The living room and each bedroom must have at least two electrical outlets in proper operating condition. Permanent 
overhead or wall-mounted light fixtures may count as one of the required electrical outlets.

(g) Structure and materials-(1) Performance requirement. The dwelling unit must be structurally sound. The structure 
must not present any threat to the health and safety of the occupants and must protect the occupants from the environment.

(2) Acceptability criteria. (i) Ceilings, walls, and floors must not have any serious defects such as severe bulging or 
leaning,large holes, loose surface materials, severe buckling, missing parts, or other serious damage.

(ii) The roof must be structurally sound and weathertight.  

(iii) The exterior wall structure and surface must not have any serious defects such as serious leaning, buckling, sagging, 
large holes, or defects that may result in air infiltration or vermin infestation.

(iv) The condition and equipment of interior and exterior stairs, halls, porches, walkways, etc., must not present a danger 
of tripping and falling. For example, broken or missing steps or loose boards are unacceptable.

(v) Elevators must be working and safe.  

(h) Interior air quality-(1) Performance requirement. The dwelling unit must be free of pollutants in the air

at levels that threaten the health of the occupants.  

(2) Acceptability criteria. (i) The dwelling unit must be free from dangerous levels of air pollution from carbon monoxide, 
sewer gas, fuel gas, dust, and other harmful pollutants. 

(ii) There must be adequate air circulation in the dwelling unit.

(iii) Bathroom areas must have one openable window or other adequate exhaust ventilation.

(iv) Any room used for sleeping must have at least one window. If the window is designed to be openable, the window 
must work.

(i) Water supply-(1) Performance requirement. The water supply must be free from contamination.

(2) Acceptability criteria. The dwelling unit must be served by an approvable public or private water supply that is 
sanitary and free from contamination.

(j) Lead-based paint performance requirement. The Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act (42 U.S.C. 4821-4846), 
the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 4851-4856), and implementing regulations at 
part 35, subparts A, B, M, and R of this title apply to units assisted under this part.

(k) Access performance requirement. The dwelling unit must be able to be used and maintained without unauthorized 
use of other private properties. The building must provide an alternate means of exit in case of fire (such as fire stairs or 
egress through windows).

(l) Site and Neighborhood-(1) Performance requirement. The site and neighborhood must be reasonably free from

disturbing noises and reverberations and other dangers to the health, safety, and general welfare of the occupants.

(2) Acceptability criteria. The site and neighborhood may not be subject to serious adverse environmental conditions, 
natural or manmade, such as dangerous walks or steps; instability; flooding, poor drainage, septic tank back-ups or sewage 
hazards; mudslides; abnormal air pollution, smoke or dust; excessive noise, vibration or vehicular traffic; excessive 
accumulations of trash; vermin or rodent infestation; or fire hazards.

(m) Sanitary condition-(1) Performance requirement. The dwelling unit and its equipment must be in sanitary condition.

(2) Acceptability criteria. The dwelling unit and its equipment must be free of vermin and rodent infestation.

(n) Smoke detectors performance requirement-(1) Except as provided in paragraph (n)(2) of this section, each 
dwelling unit must have at least one battery-operated or hard-wired smoke detector, in proper operating condition, on 
each level of the dwelling unit, including basements but excepting crawl spaces and unfinished attics. Smoke detectors 
must be installed in accordance with and meet the requirements of the National Fire Protection Association Standard 
(NFPA) 74 (or its successor standards). If the dwelling unit is occupied by any hearing- impaired person, - smoke detectors 
must have an alarm system, designed for hearing-impaired persons as specified in NFPA 74 (or successor standards). 

(2) For units assisted prior to April 24, 1993, owners who installed battery-operated or hard-wired smoke detectors prior to 
April 24, 1993 in compliance with HUD's smoke detector requirements, including the regulations published on July 30, 1992, 
(57 FR 33846), will not be required subsequently to comply with any additional requirements mandated by NFPA 74 (i.e., the 

owner would not be required to install a smoke detector in a basement not used for living purposes, nor would the owner be 
required to change the location of the smoke detectors that have already been installed on the other floors of the unit).