On May 28, 2019 HUD announced the implementation of UPCS-V will be postponed two years. This includes an extension of the UPCS-V demonstration program.
UPCS-V Timeline
Before the announcement, REAC planned to make UPCS-V voluntary by the summer of 2019 and required by summer 2020. The latest proposed version of the UPCS-V (Protocol Beta) was to be finalized earlier this year.
However, recent proposed changes to the UPCS protocol currently used by REAC inspectors has affected that timeline. HUD plans to overhaul UPCS with a new protocol called NSPIRE (National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate).
Now HUD plans to make NSPIRE the protocol for public housing, multifamily programs, and housing choice vouchers (HCV).
What Happens to UPCS-V?
NSPIRE will go through a two-year demonstration period. At the same time, they will use the next two years to continue to test UPCS-V Protocol Beta.
At the end of that period, HUD envisions that NSPIRE “will leverage the infrastructure of UPCS-V to demonstrate, test, and validate NSPIRE protocols”.
The Takeaway
The final line is that HQS (Housing Quality Standards) will continue to be the protocol used for Section 8 HCV inspections for the foreseeable future. However, changes are definitely coming to all the inspection protocols over the next two years.
The latest in proposed changes will be included in future UCPS training and speaking engagements. Please contact us if you have any questions.