HCVP Property Regulations

The Housing Authority of Baltimore City Administrative Plan for the Housing Choice Voucher Program generally requires that all participating property owners comply with Federal, State and Local law and regulations. Property owners with rental properties constructed prior to 1978 must register with the Maryland Department of the Environment Rental Property Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. Additionally, all non-owner occupied Property Owners in the City of Baltimore are required to file a Registration Statement with the Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Proof of registration with both the Maryland Department of the Environment Rental Property Lead Poisoning Prevention Program and the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development before entering into or continuing any Housing Assistance Payment contract.

Furthermore, all participating Housing Choice Voucher participating landlords must meet all applicable Federal and HABC property requirements.

State, local and program requirements

Lead-Based Paint regulations.

Landlords participating in the HABC's Housing Choice Voucher Program must comply with and provide proof of compliance with all local, state and federal laws and regulations. Below are links to regulations related to Lead Paint:

• Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE)
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• For HUD's Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control, click here.

Rental Property Registration

The Baltimore City Code, Article 13, Subtitle 4-2, requires every owner of a non-owner occupied residential unit "whether occupied or vacant, whether it is producing revenue or not producing revenue, whether habitable or not habitable" shall file a registration statement with the Commissioner of Baltimore Housing. This must be done upon any transfer of the property and every September 1st thereafter.

For further information, go to dhcd.baltimorecity.gov

Housing Quality Standards

to move-in and periodically during occupancy by Housing Choice Voucher Program participants, HABC inspects rental units to assure that these units are and remain at acceptable levels.

Failure of the unit to meet Housing Quality Standards will prevent HABC in entering into a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract with the property owner/agent and, for units already occupied by tenants participating in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, will lead to the suspension of HAP payments to the landlord and authorization for the tenant to move to an HQS compliant unit.

Inspections are scheduled and both the landlord and tenant are notified by mail of the inspection date. Failure by the inspector to gain entry to the unit will be considered a failed inspection. Two such failed attempts to gain entry will lead to suspension of HAP payments as well as initiation of HCV program termination proceedings against the tenant It is the owner's responsibility to assure unit access to HABC inspectors.