Why DC HQS Inspections Fail — And How to Pass the First Time
Before DCHA pays a dollar of rent, your unit has to pass a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection. A failed inspection means a re-inspection weeks later — and every week the unit sits empty is rent you never get back. Here are the issues that fail DC units most often, and a room-by-room checklist to pass on the first visit.
The most common reasons units fail
Safety devices
- Smoke detector missing, dead, or not on every level and near each sleeping area
- Carbon monoxide detector missing where there is gas heat, a gas stove, or an attached garage
- Fire extinguisher missing where the unit requires one
Electrical
- No GFCI protection on outlets near the kitchen sink, bathroom, or exterior
- Missing or cracked cover plates on outlets and switches
- Exposed wiring, open junction boxes, or a double-tapped breaker
- An outlet or light that simply does not work in a habitable room
Paint & surfaces
- Peeling, chipping, or flaking paint — a hard fail in any unit built before 1978 (lead-paint rule)
- Damaged plaster or drywall that exposes a hazard
- Trip hazards: torn flooring, loose tile, or a broken threshold
Plumbing & heat
- Water heater with no temperature/pressure-relief (TPR) discharge pipe
- Leaks under a sink, a slow drain, or no hot water
- A room with no permanent, adequate heat source
Windows, doors & stairs
- A window that will not open, will not stay up, or is painted shut in a bedroom (egress)
- Missing or torn window screens where required
- No handrail on a stairway of four or more steps, or a loose/wobbly rail
- Security bars on a bedroom window with no quick-release from the inside
- An exterior door that does not lock, or a missing deadbolt
The gotchas that surprise experienced landlords
- Every stove burner and the oven must work — and the burner knobs must be present.
- Each outlet counts: a bedroom generally needs at least two working outlets (or one outlet plus a permanent light).
- A missing refrigerator or a fridge that will not hold temperature fails, even if the tenant plans to bring their own.
- The unit number/address must be visible from the street for some DCHA inspectors.
- Mini-blind or window-covering cords within a child’s reach can be flagged.
- A cracked window pane fails even if the window operates fine.
Pass on the first try
- Walk the unit with this list a week before the inspection — not the morning of.
- Put fresh batteries in every smoke and CO detector, and test each one.
- Fix any peeling paint completely; for pre-1978 units, assume lead-paint scrutiny.
- Confirm every outlet, switch, burner, and the oven works, with all cover plates on.
- Check GFCI outlets near water actually trip and reset.
- Make sure every window opens, stays open, and locks; replace cracked panes and torn screens.
- Verify the water heater has a TPR discharge pipe and there are no leaks under sinks.
General guidance based on HUD Housing Quality Standards. DCHA inspectors have final say and requirements can change — always confirm current standards with DCHA for your specific unit.