HUD Eliminates Entire Team of Building Inspectors

All government-subsidized buildings in the country require regular inspections as a matter of law, but those responsible for spearheading that process are out of jobs.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development laid off its entire team of building inspectors last week, Bloomberg reported, days after they were hit with furlough notices due to the government shutdown. The move leaves the government without staff to coordinate or conduct building reviews.

Overall, more than 90 staffers of the agency’s Real Estate Assessment Center were cut, according to the president of the union local. HUD did not respond to the publication’s request for comment.

Federal building inspectors oversee more than 5 million units, including public housing, subsidized multifamily properties and private properties with occupants using housing vouchers. They review more than 12,000 properties, looking at a myriad of safety features, including smoke alarms, locks, lead paint, mold and pests.

HUD does contract out the vast majority of inspections on the ground, but agency staffers are responsible for scheduling and reviewing inspections. It’s unclear if contractor work will continue, though there’s a 28-day window for scheduled inspections.

Inspectors were already in a challenging spot, dealing with a backlog that was exacerbated by the pandemic. Eligible buildings are required to be inspected at least every three years, but many properties are going on half a decade without a look.

Even before the layoff notices were issued, the inspection process was under scrutiny after scores designed to be public were taken offline following an update to HUD’s website that also knocked out training videos and other important resources.

The consequences of the HUD cuts remain to be seen, but an official with the nonprofit Public Housing Authority Directors Association expressed concern about lead-based paint and mold problems, as well as even greater disaster.

“There’s concern that HUD may not have the capacity to ensure that they’re following their statutory requirements,” PHADA deputy director Crystal Wojciechowski told the outlet.

— Holden Walter-Warner