UPCS Inspectors LLC

NSPIRE Inspection Services

Breaking News: Five REAC NSPIRE Updates

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NSPIRE-Training-Online

NSPIRE first became effective for REAC inspections in 2023, but just in the last six months HUD has made several updates and announcements.

Five REAC NSPIRE Updates You Need to Know

  1. CBS42.com (2/20/25): “A single contract with a (REAC) vendor PSI was cancelled. This does not apply to other vendors who have been assigned REAC NSPIRE inspections.”
  2. Scoring Notice Correction (Effective 1/17/25): Changes the sample size for properties between 111-133 units and 134-166 units.
  3. Fire Safety Act of 2022 (Effective 12/29/24): The use of 10-year sealed batteries or hard-wired smoke alarms is now mandatory. 
  4. Revised New Affirmative Requirements (Effective 12/14/24): Fifteen deficiencies that were not scored in the first year of NSPIRE have been extended until 10/1/25.
  5. NSPIRE Inspection Protocol and Guidance Version 1.0 (August 2024):  Overall, this guidance is an absolute must read and is covered in our NSPIRE for REAC Training.

NSPIRE REAC Preparation Training Online

After all the latest news, do you want to keep up with all the recent changes?

Take part in our next NSPIRE for REAC Preparation training online!

This one-day course will prepare you for REAC inspections and help you succeed!

Visit our NSPIRE for REAC Training Online page to find out more.

We Are Here to Help!

Questions? Contact us at education@upcsinspectors.com or 512-653-6999.

UPCS Inspectors LLC celebrates its 10-Year Anniversary in 2025.

Thank you for your support.

NSPIRE News: HCV, CoC, CPD Extension Till 10/1/2025

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NSPIRE Deadlines for HCV

Today HUD posted a Federal Register update on NSPIRE compliance for HCV and CPD Programs (such as Continuum of Care).

NSPIRE Extension to 10/1/2025

HCV and CPD can elect to start NSPIRE between now and 10/1/25.  If you already changed to NSPIRE, no further action is needed.  You are good to go.

Smoke Detector Standard Is Changing!

After 12/29/24, Smoke Detectors need to be hard wired or have a 10-year sealed battery.  HUD will update the NSPIRE Smoke Detector standard later this year.

CPD Will Get New Notices

Community Planning Development programs will get further updates in the future. However, per HUD, nothing prevents you from switching to NSPIRE now.

Source: Federal Register Notice Date Published: 7/5/24

We Will Keep You Updated on NSPIRE!

We will provide further details on all the NSPIRE requirements discussed in this email in all future classes.

Even if you already took our NSPIRE class, we will continue to update former students on major changes to the protocol. If you received this update, you will receive all our updates.

Above all, you don’t have to worry about new changes after you take our NSPIRE training.  We have you covered!

NSPIRE Training Online

Don’t miss your chance to take our highly-rated NSPIRE training online.

This class is designed specifically for the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) and Continuum of Care programs to help you succeed on future inspections!

Click here to learn more.

We Are Here to Help

Questions? Contact us at education@upcsinspectors.com.

NSPIRE News: Extension for HCV Till 10/1/24

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NSPIRE Deadlines for HCV

Today HUD posted in the Federal Register an extension for Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) programs on NSPIRE compliance.

NSPIRE Extended to 10/1/24

This notice will allow Housing Choice Voucher programs to switch from Housing Quality Standards (HQS) to NSPIRE anytime between 10/1/23 and 10/1/24.

What is Missing?

Per the notice, HUD still plans to post an Administrative Notice sometime in the future. It appears this will take place after the original 10/1/23 deadline.

This is one of the reasons why Housing Choice Voucher programs will want to wait to switch NSPIRE.

Today’s notice allows you to wait to take NSPIRE training and transition to NSPIRE inspections once everything is officially posted for Housing Choice Voucher.

You Must Contact HUD

Please review the notice because there are procedures to follow with an email to your HUD field office.

Source: Federal Register Notice Date Published: 9/28/23

Pre-Register for NSPIRE Training

Join the wait list for the first NSPIRE for HCV Online training.

Be the first to find out when all notices have been published and the class date has been announced.

Above all, this class is being developed specifically for Section 8 staff and stakeholders to help you succeed.

Click here to learn more.

Back By Demand! HQS Training Online

With the extension, we have received multiple requests for immediate HQS training for new inspectors from multiple clients.

Until NSPIRE is complete, you must continue to perform HQS inspections until you transition to NSPIRE is complete.

After all NSPIRE HCV documents are published, we will begin to host that class on a monthly basis, so your team can take that class any time before the 10/1/24 extension deadline.

Visit our HQS Training Online page to find out more.

We Are Here to Help

Questions? Contact us at education@upcsinspectors.com.

REAC News: NSPIRE Scoring Finalized

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NSPIRE-Training-Online

On 7/7/23, HUD published the final NSPIRE Scoring Notice in the Federal Register.

The notice addresses:

  • Explanation of the new REAC scoring model
  • Public comments from the March 2023 proposed notice
  • Comparisons between NSPIRE and UPCS scoring
  • The “Unit Threshold of Performance” that will cause an automatic fail
  • The new unit sample size
  • Duplicate defects inside the units
  • Which of the NSPIRE deficiencies will have zero point values
  • NSPIRE deficiencies that will have a grace period till 10/1/24

You can read the notice in the Federal Register.

Learn NSPIRE Scoring

Don’t let the new score changes catch you by surprise on your next REAC!

The new scoring system will be covered in our new NSPIRE for REAC Online Training.

This two-day course will teach you all the NSPIRE deficiencies and help you succeed on future NSPIRE inspections!

Anybody who is involved in Public Housing and Multi-Family Housing should take this class.

We Will Prepare You For NSPIRE

UPCS Inspectors LLC is a REAC RAP Contractor and we have stayed up to date on all the latest changes.

Above all, we strive to support our clients with the transition to NSPIRE and to be successful in this industry.

Visit our NSPIRE Online Training page for more information.

Questions? Contact us at education@upcsinspectors.com.

NSPIRE News: HUD Publishes Final NSPIRE Standards

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HUD REAC Inspection Checklist

On 6/15/23, HUD announced via official notice that the final version of the NSPIRE deficiency standards will be published in the federal register.

These standards will be the official deficiencies for the NSPIRE inspections set to begin this year.

Previously, HUD published NSPIRE Standards 2.2 last year for public comment.

The final standards notice is 35-pages long and details what changes were made to the proposed standards based on these public comments.

Although the announcement came out yesterday, HUD’s website has the final standards listed to be published on 6/20/23.

Based on a REAC contractor meeting attended by UPCS Inspectors LLC last month, they had predicted that the NSPIRE Standards 2.2 would be only 85-90% accurate compared to the final standards.

In addition, an administrative notice important for REAC based NSPIRE inspections has not been posted for review and the scoring notice published in March has not been finalized.

Last, there are several Housing Choice Voucher related items that must be published (such as the updated checklist) before those inspections can begin.

UPCS Inspectors LLC continues to monitor for these elements to finalize our NSPIRE training that will premiere this summer.

We Will Prepare You for NSPIRE

We will teach all the new changes to the REAC inspector protocol that will occur under NSPIRE (pre-inspection, inspection day, and post-inspection).

In addition, we will provide NSPIRE training specifically for the HCV and HOME programs.

Last, UPCS Inspectors LLC is a REAC RAP Contractor and will stay up to date on all the latest changes.

Questions? Contact us at education@upcsinspectors.com.

Meet Our Founder

Founded in 2015 by owner Alejandro Dominguez, UPCS Inspectors LLC is a full service inspection company that specializes in annual inspections, NSPIRE training, and REAC consultation for the housing industry. In addition, UPCS Inspectors LLC is a contract vendor for the US … Read More

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Connect With Us

UPCS Inspectors LLC
2027 Coats Circle
Austin, TX 78748

P: 512-653-6999
E: alejandro@upcsinspectors.com