[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 30, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46911-46912]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-19070]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR-6086-N-12]
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 Housing
Choice Voucher, Project-Based Voucher, and Section 8 Moderate
Rehabilitation Programs
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing
(PIH), HUD.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: 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 (Mod Rehab) programs
through January 31, 2027. HUD is taking this action to provide Public
Housing Agencies (PHAs) with additional time to implement HUD's NSPIRE
standards and the change to the definition of Housing Quality Standards
(HQS). This is the third extension of this compliance date.
DATES: PHAs subject to 24 CFR parts 882, 982, and 983 are not required
to comply with the following changes to these parts in the NSPIRE final
rule until February 1, 2027.
24 CFR 982.4, definition of Housing Quality Standards
(HQS), including the subsequent changes made by the HOTMA voucher final
rule (89 FR 38224).
[[Page 46912]]
24 CFR 982.401, including the subsequent changes made by
the HOTMA voucher final rule.
24 CFR part 982 subpart M, including the subsequent
changes made by the HOTMA voucher final rule, except 24 CFR 982.628(d).
24 CFR 983.3, definition of Housing Quality Standards
(HQS), including the subsequent changes made by the HOTMA voucher final
rule.
24 CFR 983.101(a)-(b), including the subsequent changes
made by the HOTMA voucher final rule.
All other changes are in effect as required by the NSPIRE and HOTMA
voucher final rules.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dana Kitchen, Real Estate Assessment
Center, Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and
Urban Development, 550 12th Street SW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20410-
4000; telephone (612) 370-3089 (this is not a toll-free number), email
[email protected]. HUD welcomes and is prepared to receive calls from
individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as individuals
with speech or communication disabilities. To learn how to make an
accessible telephone call, please visit: https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/telecommunications-relay-service-trs.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Many PHAs administering the HCV, PBV, and Mod Rehab programs
currently use HQS for inspections, previously defined at 24 CFR
982.401. HUD's Economic Growth Regulatory Relief and Consumer
Protection Act: Implementation of National Standards for Physical
Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) final rule (``NSPIRE final rule'')
(88 FR 30442), published on May 11, 2023, includes amendments to 24 CFR
parts 882, 982, and 983 (among others), effective October 1, 2023. HUD
has delayed the compliance date for the HCV, PBV, and Mod Rehab
programs twice. In September 2023 (88 FR 66882), the compliance date
was delayed until October 1, 2024, and in July 2024 (89 FR 55645), the
compliance date was delayed until October 1, 2025. These delays allowed
PHAs additional time to implement NSPIRE.
With this notice, HUD has included specific provisions to clarify
the intent of the extension. Reference to the Housing Opportunities
Through Modernization Act (HOTMA) voucher final rule (89 FR 38224) is
due to its subsequent amendments to many of the NSPIRE final rule
provisions and definitions. For example, the NSPIRE final rule changed
24 CFR 982.4, definition of Housing quality standards (HQS), and the
HOTMA voucher final rule subsequently amended it further to include
HUD-approved variations. With this notice, PHAs are not required to
comply with the specific provisions that change the definition of HQS
until February 1, 2027.
However, other provisions included in the NSPIRE final rule
(whether amended by HOTMA or not), such as 24 CFR
982.352(b)(1)(iv)(A)(3), which references the duties of independent
entities in PHA-owned eligible housing, became effective as required
and are not included in the provisions extended by this notice.
II. Basis for Delay of Compliance Date
Through this notice, HUD further delays the compliance date for the
HCV, PBV, and Mod Rehab programs until February 1, 2027. HUD continues
to encourage PHAs that are ready to implement NSPIRE to proceed with
implementation at their earliest convenience; however, HUD has
determined that additional time is necessary for many PHAs to implement
NSPIRE for the HCV, PBV, and Mod Rehab programs. This extension will
provide PHAs with additional time to train their staff, communicate
with landlords, and access additional technical assistance from HUD to
support their transition to the NSPIRE standards.
PHAs and industry groups representing PHAs have reported to HUD
their concerns related to landlord participation in the HCV and PBV
programs. PHAs continue to face challenges in recruiting and retaining
private landlords. Many PHAs report experiencing a significant loss in
landlord participation and fear that a major change to the inspection
processes and standards may exacerbate the problem. PHAs have urged HUD
to consider additional delays to allow them more time to transition
their staff and landlords/owners to the NSPIRE standards. Additionally,
PHAs report that many private software vendors have not finished
developing their NSPIRE-related inspection products for the PHAs, and,
because HUD has paused the release of its inspection application, some
PHAs may need additional time to prepare for another option.
III. Instructions for PHAs With HCV, PBV, and Mod Rehab Programs
All PHAs that have implemented NSPIRE, but have not yet notified
HUD, should notify HUD of the date they transitioned to NSPIRE. In
addition, PHAs that have not implemented NSPIRE, should notify HUD of
the date they plan to implement NSPIRE. These notifications are to be
sent via email to [email protected] with a courtesy
copy to their field office representative. The email's subject line
should read ``Notification of NSPIRE Implementation, [PHA code],'' and
the body of the email should include the PHA name, PHA code, and the
date the PHA implemented NPSIRE or plans to implement NSPIRE (the date
shall be no later than February 1, 2027). Regardless of implementation
date, PHAs are reminded that the NSPIRE standards \1\ for installing
carbon monoxide devices and smoke alarms still apply as they implement
statutory mandates under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 \2\
and 2023,\3\ respectively. More information regarding carbon monoxide
devices and smoke alarms can be found in the forthcoming PIH notice.
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\1\ NSPIRE Standards: https://www.hud.gov/reac/nspire-standards.
\2\ Section 101, ``Carbon Monoxide Alarms or Detectors in
Federally Insured Housing'' of Title I of Division Q, Financial
Services Provisions and Intellectual Property, of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260, 134 (2020).
\3\ Section 601, ``Smoke Alarms in Federally Assisted Housing''
of Title VI of Division AA, Financial Services Matters, of the
Consolidated Appropriations, 2023, Public Law 117-328 (2022).
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IV. Conclusion
HUD extends the compliance date for the changes made to 24 CFR
parts 882, 982, and 983 listed in the DATES section of this notice to
February 1, 2027, at which time PHAs subject to these parts must comply
with the NSPIRE final rule. Until February 1, 2027, PHAs may choose to
comply with the provisions of these parts as amended by the NSPIRE
final rule, which existed prior to October 1, 2023 (``HQS as previously
defined'').
Benjamin Hobbs,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
[FR Doc. 2025-19070 Filed 9-29-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P