Allowable Methods for Unit Habitability. Determination). Documentation of habitability recertification must be kept in the client file. Habitability Complaint Procedure Each household must be informed in writing of the habitability complaint process and assured that complaints regarding their housing unit’s safety and habitability will not affect the household’s program eligibility. Each landlord must be informed in writing of the habitability complaint process and that subsidy payments to landlords may be terminated if landlords fail to resolve habitability issues according to the Washington State Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18). Lead/subgrantees must have a written procedure describing the response to complaints regarding unit safety and habitability. The procedure must include: ✓ Mandatory inspection when a complaint is reported using the HHS Form, HQS Inspection Form, or documenting the specific complaint in an alternate format that includes follow-up and resolution. ✓ Actions that will be taken to ensure habitability is restored and steps that may lead to termination of payment to a landlord if they fail to restore habitability according to the Washington Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18). Lead Based Paint Assessment The grantee must ensure that a lead‐based paint visual assessment is completed prior to payment of a permanent housing subsidy if a child under the age of six or pregnant woman resides in a unit constructed prior to 1978. To prevent lead poisoning in young children, grantees must comply with the Lead‐Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act of 1973 and its applicable regulations found at 24 CFR 35, Parts A, B, M, and R. A visual assessment must be conducted upon request from the tenant. Visual assessments must be conducted by a HUD‐Certified Visual Assessor and must be documented on the HQS Inspection Form or HHS Form and maintained in the client file. For a guide to compliance see Appendix F: Lead-Based Paint Visual Assessment Requirements. Exceptions to the Lead-Based Paint Visual Assessment Requirement Visual assessments are not required under the following circumstances: ✓ Zero‐bedroom or SRO‐sized units; ✓ X‐ray or laboratory testing of all painted surfaces by certified personnel has been conducted in accordance with HUD regulations and the unit is officially certified to not contain lead‐based paint; ✓ The property has had all lead‐based paint identified and removed in accordance with HUD regulations; ✓ The unit has already undergone a visual assessment within the past 12 mo...
