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The Building of a New Inspection Model – National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE)

NSPIRE Inspection Protocol and Guidance Published

This inspection protocol establishes operative guidance for inspectors to perform thorough NSPIRE inspections. This protocol does not apply to Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) NSPIRE inspections. Learn More >>

Try the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) NSPIRE Inspection Tool and Checklist

Agencies administering HUD's Section 8 voucher programs can use this checklist in MS Excel and two PDF formats to conduct an NSPIRE inspection. The HCV checklist is an optional tool to help inspectors that use a paper-based checklist in areas without electronic tools or internet connectivity. REAC will issue an NSPIRE software application for voucher programs in the coming months. Note: agencies that participated in the NSPIRE Demonstration may continue using the app they were already using to conduct NSPIRE inspections.

Try the Updated NSPIRE Score Calculator

The Updated NSPIRE Score Calculator (MS Excel) helps you estimate a potential NSPIRE score based on the types and locations of deficiencies identified during an NSPIRE inspection. This score only provides an estimate as many factors will impact the actual score generated by a property inspection.

Learn how to use HUD’s Updated NSPIRE Score Calculator by watching this video.

About REAC

HUD’s Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) assists in improving housing quality by performing accurate, credible, and reliable assessments of HUD’s real estate portfolio. REAC’s primary mission is to provide our customers with independent, actionable assessments that advance risk-informed decisions about the condition of the nation’s affordable housing portfolio.

The new NSPIRE model prioritizes health, safety, and functional defects over appearance. It implements inspections that better reflect the true physical conditions of the property. The NSPIRE model supports the adoption of sound, year-round maintenance practices.

NSPIRE's Priorities for Residents: Year-round maintenance with a unit-focused approach, prioritization of residents' health and safety, introducing resident surveys for better service, safe and habitable home.
NSPIRE's Priorities for POAs & PHAs: Increased inspection consistency, collaboration with HUD, ability to contribute input to new standards, access to inspection data, reliable data and presentable reports for portfolio management and risk assessment.
NSPIRE's Priorities for Inspectors: Electronic-based inspections, increased inspection accuracy, clearly defined inspection standards and protocols, ability to capture pictures, collaboration with HUD.
NSPIRE's Priorities for HUD: Access to reliable, valid, and objective data; alignment of multiple inspection standards; adaption to industry change and modernization of health and safety standards; better performance assessments for HUD-assisted housing.

The most positive aspect to NSPIRE is its desire to improve the quality of life for residents and address unit needs in a meaningful way.

— Wandae Johnson, Charlottesville Public Housing Association of Residents

NSPIRE Standards

HUD’s approach to standards development follows a clearly defined core set of principles: people-centered design, a focus on efficiency, science-based rationales, continuous collaborative improvement, and streamlined operations. HUD welcomes input from property owners and agents, public housing agencies, residents, technical experts, and other members of the public. Your feedback is critical to the success of NSPIRE and the well-being of the residents HUD serves.

More About NSPIRE

Webinars and Webcasts

Webinars & Webcasts

Watch the many NSPIRE webinars and webcasts to learn about NSPIRE overviews, standards, and more. View »

NSPIRE Resources

NSPIRE Resources

See NSPIRE’s latest news, events, and what’s happening in the development of NSPIRE. View »

Follow REAC on Twitter for breaking NSPIRE updates!

Follow REAC on Twitter for breaking NSPIRE updates!

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