Section 8 inspection punch list for St. Louis landlords

Every week a unit sits empty waiting for a re-inspection is a week without rent. The good news is that most inspection fails are small, cheap and predictable. If you walk the unit before the inspector does, you can usually pass the first time.

This guide covers the items we see flagged most often on Section 8 and occupancy inspections around St. Louis. It is practical advice, not legal advice: always go by the standard and notice your housing authority gives you.

Know which standard applies

Housing authorities in St. Louis City and St. Louis County each run their own Housing Choice Voucher programs. HUD has been moving voucher inspections from the older Housing Quality Standards (HQS) to a newer standard called NSPIRE, and authorities have been switching on different timelines. The basics overlap a lot, but some details differ, such as carbon monoxide detectors and certain electrical items. Ask your authority which one your unit will be inspected against.

Life safety: the items that fail most

• Working smoke detector on every level and outside each sleeping area
• Carbon monoxide detector where there are fuel burning appliances or an attached garage
• GFCI outlets near sinks, tubs and outdoors, and they trip and reset
• Every outlet and switch has a cover plate. No cracked plates
• No exposed wiring, open junction boxes or missing knockouts
• Water heater has a temperature and pressure relief valve with a discharge line pointing down
• Handrails on stairways, secure and easy to grip

Kitchen

• Every burner and the oven heat up
• Range knobs are all present
• Refrigerator keeps food cold and door seals close
• Hot and cold water at the sink, no drips under it
• Working light fixture

Bathroom

• Toilet flushes, refills and is secure to the floor
• Hot and cold water at sink and tub, no leaks
• Working exhaust fan or a window that opens
• Caulk around tub and sink is intact, no mold

Doors and windows

• Entry doors lock and close fully, no daylight around the edges
• Windows open, stay open and lock, especially on the ground floor
• No cracked or broken glass
• Bedroom windows are not painted or screwed shut

Paint and surfaces

In homes built before 1978, chipped or peeling paint is treated seriously because of lead. Do not dry scrape or sand old paint without lead safe work practices. Interior walls and ceilings should be free of holes, large cracks and water damage.

• No peeling or chipping paint inside or out
• No holes in walls or ceilings
• No water stains that suggest an active leak
• Floors without trip hazards: loose tiles, torn carpet, raised thresholds

Heat and utilities

• Heat works and reaches every habitable room
• Furnace filter is clean
• All utilities on for the inspection
• No signs of pests

How to get it done in one visit

The fastest path is simple: walk the unit with a list like this one, note every item, and give the whole list to one Pro. A single visit that works through twenty small items in order costs far less than three separate trips, and it gets you to the re-inspection sooner.

If you already have the inspector's report, send us a photo of it. HandyPros works straight from your report, and attaches photos of each fixed item to the invoice so you have proof for your file and for the housing authority if they ask.

On our landlord page you can tick off items on an interactive version of this checklist and turn it into a work order in one tap.

Quick answers