National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE)
NSPIRE, or the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate, is a method for conducting and processing inspections of HUD-assisted housing developed by the Real Estate Assessment Center, or REAC, within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
This model is intended to better identify public housing authorities (PHAs) and property owners and agents (POAs) that are not adhering to minimum compliance standards by:
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Establishing objective, well-defined deficiency definitions developed and tested in collaboration with stakeholders such as PHAs, POAs, resident groups, public health experts, and academics;
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Requiring properties to complete and submit their annual self-inspection results electronically;
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Incorporating less complex inspection protocols using indicators aligned to quality;
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Reducing the number of inspectable areas at properties to simplify the process and reduce administrative errors related to deficiency misclassification;
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Deliberately grouping deficiencies into one of 3 categories;
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Identifying all health and safety deficiencies; and
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Adopting a new scoring model that places emphasis on the residents' homes (Public Housing only).
NSPIRE establishes the three inspectable areas of a REAC inspection into easily identified locations:
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Outside: Refers to the building site, building exterior components, and any building systems located outside of the building or unit. This includes things like playgrounds, sidewalks, and air-conditioning units.
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Inside: Refers to the common areas and building systems within the building interior and are not inside a unit. This could include interior laundry facilities, workout rooms, and so on.
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Unit: Refers to the interior components of an individual dwelling, where the resident lives.
This increases the usability of the standards and streamlines the inspection process. To ensure that all residents live in safe, habitable homes, the items and components located inside the building, outside the building, and within the units of HUD housing must be functionally adequate, operable, and free of health and safety hazards. This streamlined approach allows inspectors to cite deficiencies based on where they are standing and eliminates potential subjectivity or ambiguity about a deficiency’s location.
There are three types of inspections under NSPIRE:
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Self-Inspections: conducted by property owners or management
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NSPIRE Inspection: Conducted by contract inspectors and PHAs (the only inspection type required in the HCV Program)
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NSPIRE Plus Inspection: Conducted by HUD and triggered by poor property conditions or requested by HUD offices
NOTE: Effective December 29, 2024, all smoke alarms must be either hard-wired or sealed, as required under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.
NSPIRE Quick Links
Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Inspections
The current HQS inspection requirements transitioned on January 1, 2025 to the National Standard for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE).
An HQS inspection ensures that all subsidized units have adequate living space for the family, are structurally sound, provide the necessary habitability systems (electricity, plumbing, heating, appliances, etc.) and present no conditions that endanger health and safety. HUD's Form 52580-A further outlines the minimum unit standards necessary to participate in CVR New York's programs.
Pest Control
Bed Bugs
Bed bug infestations are becoming increasingly common in New York City. There are steps that can be taken to prevent bed bugs from infesting your home. When bed bugs are present, they can be safely controlled. Learn how to recognize, prevent, and treat bed bugs by visiting these links:
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Bedbugs: Information for Tenants and Owners - A publication by the New York City Department of Health
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Bedbugs: What They Are and How to Control Them - A publication by the New York State Department of Health
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What is Working for Bed Bug Control in Multifamily Housing - A publication of the National Center for Healthy Housing
Lead-Based Paint
The primary cause of childhood lead poisoning is the ingestion of deteriorated lead-based paint. Since the U.S. banned lead-based paint in 1978, this hazard is restricted to older homes. Children under the age of six are particularly susceptible to the potential neurological problems caused by lead poisoning because their nervous system is still developing. In addition, they tend to crawl and play on the floor where paint chips and dust collect and have a habit of putting things in their mouths. Lead poisoning can cause severe learning disabilities, hearing loss, brain and nerve damage, and even death.
In order to provide lead-safe environments for their tenants, owners should address any significant peeling paint issues as soon as discovered or regularly re-paint to seal surfaces and trap any lead-based paint that may be present.
Inspection Results Disputes
Disputes of inspections results and/or abatements may be considered in the following circumstances if submitted in a timely manner:
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The failed item does not meet the definition of a deficiency in accordance with NSPIRE.
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The failed item should be reclassified from an "owner" responsibility to "tenant" responsibility.
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Abatement is not the appropriate course of action in accordance with HUD rules and regulations and the HCR Administrative Plan.
In the situation that a property owner has a dispute categorized as outlined above, the property owner must submit the Inspection Result Dispute Form. CVR is under no obligation to consider disputes not submitted in a timely manner, more than ten calendar days after the date of inspection/abatement. You may email the form to nyinquiries@cvrnewyork.com.