HOUSING INSPECTIONS

October 2013

Over the past seven (7) years the number of Supported Living homes has increased

from 1,394 sites on June 30, 2005 to 1,843 sites on June 30, 2012. Even though we

have increased the number of Supported Living homes by 449 or 24%, we have not

increased the resources for completing housing inspections. In fact, we have

decreased the number of counties in the Kingsport Housing Authority contract to

keep them within their required yearly budget. Consequently, we are becoming

increasingly dependent upon agencies to be considerate of the DIDD Housing

Housing Inspector assigned to your agency to give them a heads up that you have a

property to inspect. That way there will be two sets of eyes on your request and

unexpected delays will be more likely to be avoided. True emergencies can be

accommodated, but keep in mind that there are only two (2) inspectors for the entire

state! Failure to plan is not an emergency!

Most frequent reasons for a site failure:

1.At least one working outlet or one working permanently installed ceiling or

wall light fixture.

2.All outlets within 6’ of a water source must have GFCI.

3.All permanently installed ceiling or all light fixtures have covers if they were

are free from breaks and cracks.

7.Emergency evacuation plan

8.Temperature pressure relief valve with a ¾” overflow pipe. (Water heater)

All of these items (with the exception of #4) have been on the list of “most frequent

reasons why a unit fails the housing inspection” since we began doing inspections in

2004. Most are an easy fix. Please pay special attention to these items at you pre-

inspect homes you are considering leasing.

BEFORE THE INSPECTION:

How to prepare for an inspection:

Use the Housing Inspection Check List used by the state inspectors (along

with all required forms for inspections or discontinuation of a site code) is

immediately.

The Housing Inspection Check List is relatively short compared with the 2,000

page Life Safety Code book. As always, if you have any questions please call

or email the Housing Inspector assigned to your agency. If you haven’t

already, develop a good working relationship with the person that inspects

your homes.

Our Housing Inspectors continue to report that agencies that have their

maintenance personnel or agency Program Managers pre-inspect homes

have a much higher rate of passing during the initial inspection than those that

are not pre-inspected by someone knowledgeable about maintenance issues

etc.)

Have an evacuation plan ready for the property (can use copy of apartment

complex brochure with floor plan)

You might want to consider carrying the following items with you for housing

inspections:

1. 9-volt batteries for smoke and CO detectors

2. Spare, battery operated smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (for

properties not yet occupied)

3. Fire extinguisher (for properties not yet occupied)

4. Extra switch and outlet plates/screws

maintenance needs (water leak) as neglect and therefore the responsibility

of the tenant.

Negotiate with landlords about who will pay for/complete pre-occupancy

repairs, i.e., offer to purchase the GFCIs and ask that the landlord’s

maintenance install them.

Most landlords will be reasonable if you are, too. Cultivate a relationship of

cooperation with landlords. This should be a mutually beneficial

relationship. If you take good care of the landlord’s property the landlord

will usually take good care of you and your needs!

agency please check with the Transition Office for your region or with Betty

Chester at the Central Office as to the status of the housing inspection before

actually transferring this property. The property must have a current “passed”

inspection to be eligible to receive a site code for your agency.

Site codes do not transfer from one agency to another – they are agency

specific.

Due to a lack of Housing Inspector resources we are only able to complete

inspections every 24-30 months even if the property changes agencies.

If the agency is closing/vacating a home or a person and their home are transitioning

to another agency, the agency must submit a “Supported Living Homes Closure or

asterisked issues will actually fail an inspection. If subsequent inspections indicate

a repeat violation of a non-asterisked item your agency will have 7-days to resolve

the issue. Failure to maintain the residences of people supported by DIDD can

result in the funding for that location (and everyone receiving funding at that

location) being interrupted until the repair is corrected.

“Tennant Neglect” issues: Make sure that your DSP support people to be good,

responsible tenants! I.E., mold around tub/toilet, water damage, plumbing

problems caused by articles placed into plumbing, replacing air filters on a regular

basis, etc. Help the people you support to be good tenants by taking good care of

the property they live in and reporting needed repairs before they become a

Monthly “House Check” maintenance list: make sure that maintenance issues are

addressed timely during the year and they will not become “issues” during follow up

inspections! I suggest that you add the reporting of maintenance issues to your

request an inspection (form available on DIDD web site).

2.Home is inspected and passes inspection. (Site Code is not issued until

the site passes inspection and you cannot bill without a site code.)

3.Information/report from the Housing Inspector goes to:

a.the agency

b.the Regional Office

The Regional Office forwards a request for site code to the

Central Office (Administrative Services). The turn around time

for assigning a site code is usually about 3-5 working days.

Site codes cannot be dated before the request date (no

made promptly in order to provide a safe living environment for

the person(s) supported.

Kimberly J. Black, State Director of Residential Services

615-770-6820 office

Kimberly[email protected]

Sandra Clamp, Housing Inspector

615-210-4784

Ronnie Taylor, Housing Inspector

615-306-8915