Common Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Violations

• Units built prior to 1978, loose peeling, chipping, cracking, deteriorating paint
• Keyless deadbolts or C-locks on entry door
• Broken/cracked/missing outlet/scorched electrical switch cover plates
• Torn carpet and floor covering (trip hazard)
• Broken/missing window locks (windows less than 6' off the ground)
• Broken window pane (safety hazard)
• Windows that do not open (at least one accessible window in each bedroom and bathroom, if AC is furnished)
• Infestation: large rat holes, droppings, and evidence of roaches
• Missing knobs on range/oven
• Non-working range (all burners) and oven
• Missing or nonfunctioning smoke detectors (one per floor)
• No hot or cold running water
• Improperly connected sink drain/gas trap
• Windows and/or doors not weather tight
• Electrical outlets not working, open ground three-prong outlets
• No operable vent fan and/or operable window in bathroom
• Insecure or missing door lock/striker plate/door frame
• Potential flammable materials surrounding heating equipment/hot water heater
• Trash, discarded furniture, appliances or motor vehicles/parts (safety hazard)
• Inadequate facilities for refuse disposal (dumpsters, trash cans with covers)
• Insecure hanging electrical fixtures
• Broken or frayed wiring
• Exposed fuse box connections/overloaded circuits
• Electrical cords under rugs and/or other floor coverings and/or insecurely mounted to wall (safety hazard) 
• Wet ceilings (evidence of water leak) 
• Ceiling with large cracks/holes (structural collapse or allow drafts to enter unit) 
• Doors (not closing properly, off track) 
• Floor with large cracks, holes, buckling, missing/damaged parts, unsteady/weak 
• Missing cover on air register (safety hazard) 
• Refrigerator: inadequate size for family needs, does not keep food cool/frozen to avoid spoilage, major deterioration of door seal 
• Hot water heaters (absence of temperature-pressure relief valve and/or discharge line directed to the floor or outside of the living area, improper flues for venting gasses, corroded and leaking and/or inaccessible, electrical safety clamps on electric units) 
• Toilet not connected to a sewer drain, leakage of water and/or gasses, clogged, does not flush. not secure to floor, seat must be design to fit specific toilet
• Unvented gas/fuel heater 
• Broken, rotting or missing stairs and rails (safety hazard) 
• Handrails must be present when you have generally four or more consecutive steps and/or rails around a porch or balcony that is approximately 30" or more above the ground 
• Foundations: major recent settling, large cracks or holes, severe leaning, crumbling brick, stone or concrete, major deterioration of support 
• Utilities not on