Housing Inspector

HOUSING INSPECTOR

HOUSING ASSISTANCE DIVISION

REGULAR

ALHAMBRA, CA

Initial salary placement is generally made between the start and mid-point of the posted range. New hires are not eligible to start at the maximum of the posted range. 

The Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) is a dynamic, innovative agency created in 1982 by the Board of Supervisors to generate affordable housing and economic redevelopment throughout Los Angeles County and participating cities. Funded primarily with federal grants, the LACDA is an industry leader in sponsoring new solutions to housing and forming partnerships with private and public agencies. To apply and find out more about the LACDA, please visit our web site at www.lacda.org.

 

The Housing Assistance Division (HAD) of the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) Is responsible for the administration of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program.  The LACDA administers over 26,000 Housing Choice Vouchers for the County of Los Angeles, as well as other targeted and grant-funded rental subsidy programs. The Housing Assistance Division partners with 10,000 landlords, helping eligible families afford safe, decent, high-quality rental housing.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Under general supervision, schedules and conducts inspections and field investigations of residential housing units under subsidized rent programs; ensures compliance with Housing Quality Standards (HQS) to ensure the health and safety of program participants; collaborates with contractors, property managers and maintenance staff to maintain HQS and code requirements; provides technical assistance to senior and supervisory staff in areas of expertise; and performs related duties, as assigned.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.
• Performs a variety of technical duties related to inspections and field investigations of residential housing units under subsidized rent programs, including annual, interim and emergency/special reexaminations; schedules and conducts inspections according to HUD and Authority rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. 
• Ensures compliance with HQS and other Authority and mandated rules and regulations to ensure the health and safety of subsidized housing program participants. 
• Conducts site inspections of Public Housing/Section 8 developments to identify tenant violation of the lease and housing program HQS, rules and regulations including, but not limited to, expired vehicle registration tags, weeds per city code, pet violations; receives and investigates complaints from tenants and non-tenants regarding illegal criminal activity that may be occurring; coordinates with senior and supervisory staff to issue notices of noncompliance and respond to and resolve noncompliance complaints in a timely and efficient manner.
• Prepares notices of violations and initiates follow-up action as necessary to ensure compliance is achieved.
• Identifies and communicates necessary repairs to senior and supervisory inspection staff or maintenance staff as appropriate. 
• Responds to citizen complaints and requests for information, including the residents, the general public, landlords, property managers, and other Authority staff. 
• Prepares and maintains a variety of written and electronic records of inspection activities performed and required follow-up. 
• Assists with the preparation and maintenance of various reports. 
• Observes and complies with Authority and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols. 
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Principles, procedures, and techniques for conducting inspections of residential housing units.
• Specific property conditions that have the potential to endanger the health and safety of occupants.
• Basic methods and practices used in housing assistance and/or social service programs. 
• Principles and procedures of record keeping and reporting. 
• HUD Housing Quality Standards (HQS).  
• Section 8 rental assistance and affordable housing programs.  
• Recent and on-going developments, current literature, and sources of information related to HQS inspections.  
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances, as well as industry standards and best practices relevant to the assigned area of responsibility. 
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and Authority staff 
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. 
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

Ability to:

• Conduct housing inspections and communicate results with owners and tenants.
• Interpret, apply, and explain applicable Authority policies and procedures. 
• Compose correspondence and reports independently or from brief instructions. 
• Understand the organization and operation of the Authority and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.    
• Compile and review information; prepare records and reports.
• Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record keeping, and tracking systems. 
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, legal and procedural guidelines.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying.   A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Education:

• Equivalent to completion of twelfth (12th) grade.

Experience: 

• Two (2) years of increasingly responsible experience in housing or property management, inspections, residential construction and/or maintenance, or a closely related field.