THA regularly inspects both rental assistance units and THA-owned properties to help ensure residents have safe, healthy, and well-maintained homes. As a public housing authority, we are required to comply with all federal, state, and local housing requirements and regulations in order to receive funding. We have dozens of professionally trained inspectors and maintenance technicians who work year-round to ensure that thousands of units throughout Tacoma meet and maintain these high standards.
For Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and other rental assistance programs, a unit must pass federal health and safety inspection standards before rental assistance can begin. THA doesn’t just place voucher holders in a unit and walk away. We work closely with our landlord partners, inspect units before leasing, require repairs within a short timeframe if we find problems, continue to inspect units at least every two years, and monitor properties to ensure they meet HUD health and safety standards. Landlords must meet these requirements to receive housing assistance payments.
THA-owned properties are also held to a high standard. Every unit receives an annual preventive maintenance inspection, and properties are routinely inspected by maintenance staff throughout the year. These inspections help identify and address issues before they become larger problems.
THA also performs regular maintenance on important building systems such as roofs, elevators, fire alarms, sprinkler systems, heating and cooling equipment, water heaters, and emergency lighting. Inspection results help THA prioritize repairs, plan improvements, and preserve housing for the long term.
Each year, THA conducts thousands of inspections across more than 5,000 assisted housing units. While some inspections identify needed repairs, most issues are resolved through the inspection and maintenance process. This proactive approach helps ensure housing remains safe, reliable, and in compliance with federal, state, and local requirements.
About Tacoma Housing Authority
Established in 1940, Tacoma Housing Authority provides high-quality, stable, and sustainable housing and supportive services to people in need, in ways that help our clients prosper and help our communities develop equitably. THA develops and manages real estate, provides rental housing, and partners with thousands of private landlords to help families pay the rent in the private rental market. In addition, THA delivers supportive services to help families succeed as tenants, parents, students, wage earners, and builders of assets who can live without assistance. THA seeks to do its work in ways that help our community be an “attractive place to live, work, attend school, shop and play,” and that help Tacoma be “safe, vibrant, prosperous, attractive and just.”