On March 28, 2023, HUD published in the Federal Register a request for comments on the NSPIRE inspection standards and scoring methodology that will be used to assess the overall condition, health, and safety of properties and units assisted or insured by HUD. This notice invites members of the public and affected parties to provide comments on these proposed changes from now until April 27, 2023. The scoring methodology converts observed defects into a numerical score and sets a threshold for HUD to perform additional administrative oversight by establishing a level for when a property fails an inspection (less than 60 points) and when an enforcement referral is automatic or required (less than or equal to 30 points). HUD will consider comments received in response to this request before publishing a final NSPIRE Scoring notice in the Federal Register.

View the full text of the notice here.

Methods for submitting public comments.

1. By mail to:
   The Regulations Division, Office of General Counsel, Department of Housing and Urban Development
   451 7th Street SW, Room 10276
   Washington, DC 20410-0500

   To ensure timely receipt of comments, HUD recommends that comments submitted by standard mail be submitted at least two weeks in advance of the deadline.

2. Electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at:
   www.regulations.gov.

   HUD strongly encourages commenters to submit comments electronically to allow the maximum time to prepare and submit comments, ensure timely receipt by HUD, and enable HUD to make comments immediately available to the public.

Note: To receive consideration as public comments, comments must be submitted through one of the two methods specified above. All submissions must refer to the docket number and title of the rule.

Docket Number:
FR-6086-N-04

Docket Name:
Request for Comments: National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate and Associated Protocols, Proposed Scoring Notice

About NSPIRE

On June 16, 2019, Hud published through the National Register the proposed National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate aimed at improving the way HUD’s Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) assists in ensuring housing quality by performing accurate, credible, and reliable assessments. In late 2019, REAC began a two-year, voluntary demonstration to better identify potential adjustments to standards, protocols, and processes prior to nationwide implementation. On June 17, 2022 HUD published in the Federal Register a set of NSPIRE inspection standards to consolidate and align housing quality requirements and associated inspection standards across programs. After developing and testing draft standards, HUD now seeks public review and comment on the proposed NSPIRE physical inspection standards which would accompany HUD’s final rule. Additionally, HUD is proposing changes to the list of life-threatening conditions and incorporating them into the NSPIRE inspection standards in place of codifying the list which HUD proposed in the “Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act (HOTMA) of 2016.

Our response

CMS and Bremerton Housing Authority will be compiling a detailed response in order to ensure that all of our partners’ needs are taken into consideration by HUD as they continue to draft any official changes to this process. We pride ourselves on being advocates for all parties involved in Section 8 Multifamily housing and would welcome any input via our contact form.