24 C.F.R. § 983.156
§ 983.156 PHA acceptance of completed units. (24 CFR Part 983)
Operative Text
(a) Inspection of units. After the PHA has received all required evidence of completion and the owner's certification that all work was completed in accordance with the applicable requirements, the PHA must inspect the completed units to determine whether they comply with HUD's HQS (see § 983.103(b)) and any additional design, architecture, or quality requirements specified by the PHA. (b) Execution or amendment of the HAP contract. If the PHA determines that the development activity or substantial improvement was completed in accordance with the applicable requirements at § 983.155 and the completed units meet HUD's HQS and any additional design, architecture, or quality requirements specified by the PHA per paragraph (a) of this section, then the PHA must: (1) For units developed pursuant to § 983.152(a)(1) which will not undergo development activity after HAP contract execution per § 983.157, submit the HAP contract for execution by the owner and execute the HAP contract; (2) For rehabilitated housing projects for which development activity has commenced prior to HAP contract execution, but which will undergo development activity after HAP contract execution under § 983.157(b), submit the HAP contract for execution by the owner and execute the HAP contract; (3) For development activity conducted after HAP contract execution, amend the HAP contract rider to designate the completed units as available for occupancy (§ 983.157(f)(1)(ii)) or, if the owner has completed all development activity as provided in the rider, amend the HAP contract to terminate the rider (§ 983.157(d)); or (4) For units that underwent substantial improvement in order to be added to the HAP contract, amend the HAP contract to add the units to the HAP contract (§ 983.207(d)). (c) Staged completion of contract units. Contract units developed pursuant to § 983.152(a)(1) which will not undergo development activity after HAP contract execution per § 983.157 may be placed under the HAP contract in stages commencing on different dates. In such a case, the PHA must determine separately for each stage whether the development activity was completed in accordance with the applicable requirements per § 983.155 and that the units meet HUD's HQS and any additional design, architecture, or quality requirements specified by the PHA per paragraph (a) of this section. If the first stage is determined compliant, then the PHA must submit the HAP contract for execution by the owner and must execute the HAP contract for PBV rehabilitated housing and newly constructed housing projects. As each subsequent stage is determined compliant, the PHA and owner must amend the HAP contract to add the units to the HAP contract (see § 983.207(g)). (d) PHA-owned units. The independent entity must perform the inspection required in paragraph (a) of this section and make the determination(s) required in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section in the case of PHA-owned units (see § 983.57(b)(3)).
Under 24 CFR Part 983 § 983.156, once an owner submits evidence of completion and a certification that work meets applicable requirements, the Public Housing Authority (PHA) must physically inspect the finished units to verify compliance with HUD's Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and any additional PHA-specified design or quality criteria. If the units pass inspection, the PHA must take a specific contractual action—executing, amending, or updating the Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract—depending on the type of development activity involved. Projects may also be completed and accepted in stages, with each stage evaluated and added to the HAP contract separately, and for PHA-owned units, an independent entity steps in to perform the inspection and compliance determinations.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Owners and managers operating under 24 CFR Part 983 § 983.156 generally ensure that all required completion documentation and owner certifications are submitted to the PHA before an inspection is scheduled. Compliant operators are familiar with which HAP contract action applies to their specific project type—whether that means initial execution, a rider amendment designating units as available, or an amendment adding substantially improved units—so that the process moves forward without unnecessary delay. For projects with staged completion, operators typically track each stage's compliance determination separately and coordinate HAP contract amendments accordingly as each stage is cleared.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For tenants in Project-Based Voucher (PBV) housing, 24 CFR Part 983 § 983.156 establishes that units must pass a HUD HQS inspection and meet any additional PHA quality standards before they can be formally brought under a HAP contract, which is a foundational protection for housing quality. If a tenant believes a unit was placed under a HAP contract without meeting these standards, that concern can generally be raised with the local PHA, a HUD field office, or a tenant-rights organization familiar with PBV programs. Tenants may also explore whether a documented HQS deficiency could be raised as part of a formal complaint or grievance process available through the PHA.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 4, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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