HUD has published the following notices, rules, and proposed rules pertaining to NSPIRE in the Federal Register.

Implementation of National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) Administrative Procedures for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Programs, REVISION 1

Revised Notice: 2024-26, REV-1
Date Published: August 9, 2024
Applicable Dates: October 1, 2025

This revised notice finalizes the administrative procedures of National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Project-Based Voucher (PBV) programs. As announced in the Federal Register, "Economic Growth Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act: Implementation of National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE); Extension of NSPIRE Compliance Date for HCV, PBV and Section 8 Moderate Rehab and CPD Programs," HUD is further extending the compliance date for HCV and PBV programs until October 1, 2025. This notice applies to all Public Housing Agencies (PHAs), including Moving-to-Work (MTW) PHAs, administering Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher programs. Read the full notice >>

Economic Growth Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act: Implementation of National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE); Extension of NSPIRE Compliance Date for HCV, PBV and Section 8 Moderate Rehab and CPD Programs

Final Notice: FR-6086-N-09
Date Published: July 5, 2024
Applicable Dates: October 1, 2025

This notice further extends the compliance date for HUD's National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) final rule for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV), Project Based Voucher (PBV) and Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation programs, and for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) and Housing Trust Fund (HTF), Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA), Emergency Solution Grants (ESG) and Continuum of Care (COC) programs ("CPD programs"), until October 1, 2025. 

Implementation of National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) Administrative Procedures for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Programs

Final Notice: PIH 2023-28
Date Published: September 29, 2023
Applicable Dates: October 1, 2023

This notice finalizes the administrative procedures of National Standards for the Physical
Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Project-Based
Voucher (PBV) programs (and by reference to HQS, the Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation
Program (Mod Rehab) found in 24 CFR part 882). The notice affirms the compliance extension to October 1, 2024, and provides instructions for PHAs seeking to temporarily retain the previously effective Housing Quality Standards or other alternative inspection protocols. Read the full Notice » 

Economic Growth Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act: Implementation of National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE); Extension of NSPIRE Compliance Date for HCV Programs

Final Notice: FR-6086-N-08
Date Published: September 28, 2023
Applicable Dates: October 1, 2023

This notice extends the compliance date for HUD's National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) final rule for Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Project Based Voucher (PBV) programs until October 1, 2024. HUD is taking this action to allow Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) additional time to implement HUD's NSPIRE standards. Read the full Notice »

Economic Growth Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act: Implementation of National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE); Extension of Compliance Date

Final Notice: FR-6086-N-07
Date Published: September 18, 2023
Applicable Dates: October 1, 2023

This notice extends the compliance date for HUD's National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) final rule for Community Planning and Development (CPD) programs. Specifically, HUD is extending the compliance date for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) and Housing Trust Fund (HTF), Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA), Emergency Solution Grants (ESG) and Continuum of Care (COC) programs ("CPD programs") until October 1, 2024. HUD is taking this action to allow jurisdictions, participants, and grantees additional time to incorporate HUD's NSPIRE standards specific to their own programs and the flexibility to transition to NSPIRE under their own timelines. Read the full Notice  »

National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate and Associated Protocols, Scoring Notice

Final Notice: FR-6086-N-06
Publication Date: July 7, 2023
Applicable Dates: July 1, 2023

This final notice outlines how HUD will sample and score Public and Multifamily housing properties for an inspection. This final Scoring Notice is a critical step in HUD's work to improve conditions in HUD-assisted housing. NSPIRE improves HUD's oversight by aligning and consolidating inspection regulations used to evaluate HUD housing across multiple programs. Additionally, it emphasizes the health and safety of residents in the places they spend the most time: their homes. Read the full Notice »

Implementation of National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) Administrative Procedures

Final Notice: PIH 2023-16/H 2023-07
Date Published: June 30, 2023
Applicable Dates: July 1, 2023

This final Departmental notice implements portions of the NSPIRE final rule that was published May 11, 2023. The NSPIRE Administrative notice covers the process and operational requirements for Public Housing and Multifamily Housing assisted properties covered by the final rule. It includes what to expect before, during and after a REAC inspection. It contains policies and procedures for properties participating in inspections, submitting evidence of deficiency correction, submitting technical reviews, administrative review, and other administrative requirements associated with the final NSPIRE rule. Read the full Notice »

National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate: Inspection Standards

Final Notice: FR-6086-N-05
Date Published: June 22, 2023
Applicable Dates: July 1, 2023

This final notice details inspectable items at HUD-assisted and Multifamily-insured properties. This includes a classification of which conditions are considered life-threatening, severe, moderate or low risk, by item and inspectable area. Additionally, the Notice commits HUD to review standards at least every three years. Read the full Notice »

Economic Growth Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act: Implementation of National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE)

Final Rule: RIN: 2577-AD05
Date Published: May 11, 2023
Applicable Dates: July 1 and October 1, 2023

This final rule establishes a new approach to defining and assessing housing quality: The National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE). This rule is part of a broad revision of the way HUD-assisted housing is inspected and evaluated. The purpose of NSPIRE is to strengthen HUD’s physical condition standards and improve HUD oversight through the alignment and consolidation of the inspection regulations used to evaluate HUD housing across multiple programs. This final rule also incorporates provisions of the Economic Growth and Recovery, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act that will reduce administrative burden on small rural public housing authorities (PHAs). Read the full Notice »

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

Notice: RIN 2577–AD05
Date Published: March 28, 2023
Comment Due Date: April 27, 2023

This request for public comment and serves as a complementary document to the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) proposed rule published on January 13, 2021. HUD now seeks public review and comment on the proposed NSPIRE physical inspection scoring and ranking methodology for Public Housing and Multifamily Housing programs to implement the final NSPIRE rule once published. 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. Comments will be due 30 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register. Comments should be submitted as instructed in the notice. Questions can be sent to NSPIRERegulations@hud.gov. Read the full Notice »

Notice of Modification to the Demonstration To Assess the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate and Associated Protocols (88 FR 4727)

Rule: HUD-2019-0068
Date Published: Jan 25, 2023
Applicable Date: January 25, 2023

Through this notification, HUD announces changes to the Demonstration to Assess the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate and Associated Protocols (NSPIRE). This demonstration allows HUD to test the NSPIRE standards and protocols as the means for assessing the physical conditions of HUD-assisted and HUD-insured housing. Through this notification, HUD is informing Demonstration participants who are subject to HUD's Multifamily Housing program that Demonstration participants will receive an inspection of record through the NSPIRE demonstration unless they opt out of the demonstration, in which case they will receive an inspection of record through the Uniform Physical Condition Standards (UPCS). HUD is also revising this demonstration so that the demonstration ends on the effective date of the NSPIRE final rule. Read the full Notice »

National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate and Associated Protocols (87 FR 36426)

Proposed Rule: HUD-2022-0044
Date Published: June 17, 2022
Comment Due Date: August 1, 2022

The public comment period for this proposed rule is open until August 1, 2022.

This Request for public comment serves as a complementary document to the Economic Growth Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act: Implementation of National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) proposed rule. The proposed rule provided that HUD would publish 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—Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Project Based Voucher Implementation: Additional Streamlining Changes” proposed rule. HUD will consider comments received in response to this request before publishing a final notice of standards in the Federal Register. Read the full Notice »

Notice of Continuation of Demonstration To Assess the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate and Associated Protocols (86 FR 53570)

Notice: HUD-2019-0068
Date Published: September 28, 2021
Applicable Date: September 28, 2021

Through this notification, HUD announced the continuation of the Demonstration to Assess the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate and Associated Protocols through April 30, 2023. This demonstration allows HUD to test the NSPIRE standards and protocols as the means for assessing the physical conditions of HUD-assisted and HUD-insured housing. The continuation provided the authority to further evaluate and refine the future state of HUD's physical inspection model. Read the full Notice »

Notice of Continuation of Demonstration to Test Proposed New Method of Assessing the Physical Conditions of Voucher-Assisted Housing (86 FR 30468)

Notice: HUD-2019-0050
Date Published: June 08, 2021
Applicable Date: July 4, 2021

HUD announced the continuation of HUD's demonstration to test the new method of assessing the physical condition of housing assisted by HUD vouchers (voucher-assisted housing) through October 1, 2022, and renewed its call for additional Public Housing Authority (PHA) volunteers (eligible PHAs administering the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program). This continuation supported HUD's ability to align the HCV program with the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) physical inspection model and to assess the HCV program's inspection protocol against this model. In addition, this notice updated the relevant participation provisions and selection criteria. Read the full Notice »

Economic Growth Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act: Implementation of National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) (86 FR 2582)

Proposed Rule: HUD-2021-0005
Date Published: January 13, 2021
Comment Due Date: March 15, 2021

The public comment period for this proposed rule has concluded.

This rule proposed a new approach to defining and assessing housing quality: The National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE). This proposed rule is part of a broader effort across HUD to revise the way HUD-assisted housing is inspected and evaluated. The purpose of NSPIRE is to reduce regulatory burden and improve HUD oversight through the alignment and consolidation of the inspection regulations used to evaluate HUD housing across multiple programs, which are currently evaluating housing quality through differing standards, protocols, and frequencies. The goal of this alignment and consolidation is to create a unified assessment of housing quality. In advancement of HUD's mission to create quality affordable housing and strong, sustainable, and inclusive communities, this rule established the method HUD will use for the implementation of specific NSPIRE standards, scoring, and processes through Federal Register notices. Additionally, the proposed rule sought to apply a “safe, habitable dwellings” standard; reduce the categories of current inspectable areas for physical condition standards for covered housing programs from five to three; implement a new annual self-inspection and reporting requirement for certain HUD housing; establish an administrative process for the treatment of health and safety deficiencies; and incorporate provisions of the Economic Growth and Recovery, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act that will reduce administrative burden on small rural PHAs. Read the full Proposed Rule »

30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) Demonstration 2577-0289 (84 FR 67952)

Notice: HUD-2019-0047
Date Published: December 12, 2019
Comment Due Date: January 13, 2020

The public comment period for this notice has concluded.

HUD sought approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the information collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD requested comment from all interested parties on the proposed collection of information. The purpose of this notice was to allow for 30 additional days of public comment. This Information Collection was previously approved as an Emergency PRA, with the specific intent of expeditiously testing revisions to the inspection standards and protocol through a demonstration program to enable enhanced identification and resolution of health and safety deficiencies in HUD-assisted/insured housing. Due to the urgency to expedite the Emergency PRA, a mathematical error was noted in the burden requirement and corrections have been made accordingly. A revision to correct the burden hours was requested to correct the hours from 11,950 to 12,150 burden hours. Read the full Notice »

Notice of Demonstration to Assess the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate and Associated Protocols (84 FR 43536)

Proposed Rule: HUD-2019-0068
Date Published: August 21, 2019
Comment Due Date: October 21, 2019

The public comment period for this proposed rule has concluded.

The shift to the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) will further one of HUD's highest priority strategic outcomes—resident health and safety. HUD is looking at the implementation of NSPIRE as an opportunity to reduce regulatory burden through alignment and consolidation compared to either maintaining or increasing the number of standards and protocols to evaluate HUD-assisted housing across multiple programs. During this demonstration, HUD will solicit volunteers to test the NSPIRE standards and protocols as the means for assessing the physical conditions of HUD-assisted and -insured housing. The demonstration, which will include approximately 4,500 properties, will be implemented on a rolling, nationwide basis and will assess all aspects of the physical inspection line of business of the Real Estate Assessment Center—the collection, processing, and evaluation of physical inspection data and information, including a new scoring model. As the first step in the implementation of NSPIRE, HUD solicited comment on this proposed, voluntary demonstration. HUD will consider the comments and incorporate them into the demonstration. Subjecting the NSPIRE model to a multistage demonstration will serve as an opportunity to refine processes and ensure all mechanisms are in place to facilitate the transition to a nationwide implementation. This demonstration will also serve as the precursor to any required rulemaking. Read the full Proposed Rule »

60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) Demonstration (84 FR 40434)

Notice: HUD-2019-0047
Date Published: August 14, 2019
Comment Due Date: October 15, 2019

The public comment period for this notice has concluded.

HUD sought approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the information collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD requested comment from all interested parties on the proposed collection of information. The purpose of this notice was to allow for 60 days of public comment. This Information Collection was previously approved as an Emergency PRA, with the specific intent of expeditiously testing revisions to the inspection standards and protocol through a demonstration program to enable enhanced identification and resolution of health and safety deficiencies in HUD-assisted/insured housing. Due to the urgency to expedite the Emergency PRA, a mathematical error was noted in the burden requirement and corrections have been made accordingly. A revision to correct the burden hours was requested to correct the hours from 11,950 to 12,150 burden hours. Read the full Notice »

Notice of Continuation of Demonstration To Test Proposed New Method of Assessing the Physical Conditions of Voucher-Assisted Housing (84 FR 24416)

Proposed Rule: HUD-2019-0050
Date Published: May 28, 2019
Comment Due Date: July 29, 2019

The public comment period for this proposed rule has concluded.

Through this document, HUD solicited comment on the continuation of a demonstration designed to test the new method of assessing the physical condition of housing assisted by HUD vouchers (voucher-assisted housing). The original announcement of the Demonstration was published in the Federal Register on May 4, 2016. In the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the act appropriating funds for HUD in Fiscal Year (FY 2016), Congress directed HUD to implement a single inspection protocol for public housing and voucher units. The continuation of this demonstration is necessary to meet that requirement. The demonstration commenced the process for implementing that single inspection protocol. Read the full Proposed Rule »

Notice of Emergency Approval of an Information Collection: National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) Demonstration (84 FR 23800)

Notice: HUD-2019-0047
Date Published: May 23, 2019
Comment Due Date: June 6, 2019

The public comment period for this notice has concluded.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, HUD requested from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) emergency approval of the information collection described in this notice. Read the full Notice »