Housing Inspector

City of Mesquite•Mesquite, TX

About The Position

The Housing Inspector conducts initial move-in, annual occupied, special, and quality-control inspections of single-family residences, townhouses, and apartments participating in or being considered for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. The position evaluates properties against HUD Housing Quality Standards (HQS), National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE), and applicable state and local requirements, and monitors compliance with HUD guidelines, laws, codes, and ordinances. The inspector makes independent field judgments under departmental policy and communicates decisions to landlords, tenants, and others to obtain compliance. The role documents inspection findings, assesses damages and responsibility for repairs, sets completion deadlines, conducts follow-up inspections, maintains records and databases, and prepares performance reports. It also supports rent-reasonableness certifications and utility allowance schedules, conducts rental-market surveys, and provides customer service and assistance to landlords and Section 8 families. General supervision is provided by the Manager of Housing and CDBG.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
One year of responsible experience in building inspection, property or construction management, project coordination, or building maintenance, repair, and construction.
Valid driver's license.
Obtain an HQS Inspector Certification within six months of employment as a condition of continued employment.
Obtain an NSPIRE Inspector Certification within six months of employment as a condition of continued employment.
Obtain a Certification of Visual Assessment Course from the HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control within six months of employment as a condition of continued employment.

Responsibilities

Inspect properties for compliance with HUD HQS and NSPIRE standards and applicable program, state, and local requirements.
Inspect plumbing, HVAC systems, electrical systems, and other building components in residences being considered for the Section 8 program.
Prepare inspection forms and related tenant-file documentation, including rent-reasonableness certifications and utility allowance schedules.
Assess damages, determine responsibility for corrections, and establish deadlines for completing work.
Complete inspection reports, document compliance efforts, maintain inspection records and files, and prepare performance reports.
Conduct follow-up inspections to verify that required work has been completed.
Meet inspection goals established by the Manager of Housing and CDBG and ensure inspections are performed and entered in a timely manner.
Schedule inspections and send appointment letters for annual inspections, missed tenant appointments, failed items, and abatements.
Provide specialized customer service to landlords with large apartment, townhouse, and single-family portfolios participating in Section 8.
Conduct surveys of prevailing rental-market rates, certify properties for rent reasonableness, and update and maintain the rent-reasonableness database.
Contact landlords and property managers to solicit interest in participating in the program.
Perform quality-control checks on inspection database entries and assigned initial and annual quality-control inspections of Section 8 units.
Respond to and resolve family and landlord complaints and inquiries about property conditions, mediate disputes, provide information, and recommend resolutions.
Prepare and assist with Housing Quality Standards and Healthy Homes training at briefings and landlord forums.
Drive to assigned destinations and perform other related duties as assigned.