NSPIRE Consulting

The new US HUD protocol for REAC inspections

How Can We Help?

NSPIRE Consulting

For years commercial and residential building inspections have been governed by HUD’s REAC standards. Now the US Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced that it will be eliminating UPCS and HQS inspection protocols in favor of a completely new set of standards known as NSPIRE.
NSPIRE implementation has already begun and the inspection experts here at The Inspection Group are monitoring the situation closely and providing news, updates, training, and service consulting for businesses adjusting to the new standards.

Ready To Get Started?

Contact the inspection experts today.

What is NSPIRE?

NSPIRE stands for the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate and it's the new physical inspection model designed to promote HUD’s stated goal of reducing health and safety hazards in the home. NSPIRE prioritizes the condition of residents’ homes and aligns multiple HUD programs to a single set of inspection standards, ensuring that the same expectations of housing quality are met across all HUD programs.

NSPIRE is an innovative program intended to evolve the way standards and scoring are developed, updated, and adapted through continuous learning and improvement. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is working alongside an array of stakeholders, such as property owners and managers, public health and public safety professionals, public housing agencies, and resident groups, to obtain critical input on the standards, processes, and protocols. To refine and improve the inspection model, NSPIRE has been tested at volunteer properties during the two-year NSPIRE Demonstration, with inspectors and properties providing feedback.

Visit the Official NSPIRE Site

Housing Choice Voucher Program

HUD is also gathering data from a concurrent demonstration for the Housing Choice Voucher program to update NSPIRE. Both demonstrations are part of HUD's congressional mandate to implement a single inspection protocol for public housing and voucher units. HUD intends to utilize inspection data, stakeholder feedback, and lessons learned to update standards and scoring every three years at a minimum.

According to HUD, the NSPIRE program aims to promote more objective, accurate, and consistent inspections. Deficiency indicators are utilized to ensure that inspectors properly identify substandard conditions within a property. Each inspection standard is accompanied by a clear and concise explanation of the potential risks that a defect presents, known as a rationale.
As professional building inspectors, our team has been monitoring this situation since it was announced and will continue to provide the most recent updates and accurate information about the new protocols for our colleagues and clients.

What will the rollout of NSPIRE Accomplish?

NSPIRE is expected to revolutionize the assessment of housing conditions for HUD-assisted and HUD-insured housing by providing inspectors with the ability to conduct consistent, defensible, and objective evaluations. This new approach will produce inspection results that more accurately reflect the true conditions of properties and promote better living conditions for residents.

NSPIRE inspections will encourage property owners to adopt sound maintenance practices to eliminate health and safety hazards that may pose a threat to residents. With its increased emphasis on residents' living conditions, NSPIRE more closely aligns with stakeholder expectations regarding housing quality.

Prioritizing health and safety of residents

By prioritizing the health and safety of residents, NSPIRE will promote year-round maintenance and ensure timely remediation of health and safety deficiencies. The new inspection model will not require properties to expend more resources but will instead enable them to prioritize their maintenance plans to address residents' needs. Additionally, NSPIRE will eliminate unnecessary complexity by aligning inspection standards across diverse HUD programs while accommodating flexible protocols.

What is the purpose of the NSPIRE Demonstration?

The NSPIRE Demonstration is a two-year process designed to test and improve NSPIRE standards, protocols, and processes through collaboration with approximately 4,500 volunteer properties. By conducting inspections using the NSPIRE Model at these properties, HUD will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of the revised standards, scoring model, technology, and support services. Throughout the Demonstration, HUD will evaluate inspection accuracy, objectivity, and efficacy, refining the NSPIRE standards, scoring, and protocols as necessary. This process will also help determine the most effective implementation strategies for NSPIRE nationwide.

The Demonstration allows HUD to work collaboratively with public housing agencies, property owners, and agents to test NSPIRE's effectiveness and refine its standards, scoring, and protocols. The goal is to increase objectivity in physical inspections and focus on resident health and safety. Feedback and testing conducted throughout the Demonstration will inform updates and changes to regulations and sub-regulations during the rulemaking process.

What Does NSPIRE Mean for Your Business?

The NSPIRE changes will have an impact on all real estate organizations that manage properties receiving HUD assistance or insurance. These organizations will need to ensure that their properties meet the new inspection standards set by NSPIRE. The focus on objective, consistent, and accurate inspections may lead to more frequent and rigorous assessments of property conditions, which could result in a higher number of deficiencies identified and a greater need for timely repairs and maintenance.
However, the NSPIRE program also presents an opportunity for organizations to improve the quality of their properties and provide better living conditions for their tenants. By prioritizing the health and safety of residents and adopting sound maintenance practices, these organizations can distinguish themselves as responsible property owners and attract more tenants.

How Can I Prepare for NSPIRE?

With the new NSPIRE standards taking effect in 2023, the time has arrived to begin adjusting your processes for inspections to be compliant by the deadline. The formal requirements have been fully released to the public, so you can begin preparing today. A first step to preparing is familiarizing yourself with the new standards on the official HUD website or by consulting our easy-to-read NSPIRE Flip Field Guide. If you would like to take a proactive step in preparing, contact us today to schedule a pre-REAC or 100% NSPIRE inspection for your properties. Continue to follow The Inspection Group’s communications to ensure you’re up to date, and if you have questions don’t hesitate to contact our offices.