Within 30 days, property owners and their agents will receive inspection notice by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) just 14 days before the actual inspection. Before the change, HUD would provide an inspection notice that could extend up to four months. This is an answer to owners and agents investing just enough money to pass “minimal inspection requirements rather than satisfying their obligation to provide quality housing.”

Housing Secretary Ben Carson explains why they have changed the inspection notice rules.

“It’s become painfully clear to us that too many public housing authorities and private landlords whom we contract with were using the weeks before their inspection to make quick fixes, essentially gaming the system,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “The action we take today is part of a broader review of our inspections so we can be true to the promise of providing housing that’s decent, safe and healthy to the millions of families we serve.”

A warning added as well. Any owner/agent who declines, cancels or refuses entry for inspection will earn a score of “0” (zero). “If the second attempt results in a successful inspection within seven calendar days, the resulting score will be recorded.”

You can read more here.