HUD HCV Guidebook § 6.2
Housing Quality Standards (HUD HCV Guidebook)
Operative Text
Housing quality standards found in 24 CFR 982.401 for the HCV program apply to cooperative housing. There
are no additional HQS requirements. The PHA remedies described in 24 CFR 982.404 do not apply. Rather, if
the unit and premises are not maintained in accordance with HQS, the PHA may exercise all available
remedies regardless of whether the family or the cooperative is responsible for the breach of HQS. No
housing assistance payment can be made unless the contract unit meets HQS and the defect is corrected
within the period as specified by the PHA. All HQS defects must44 be corrected within the period of time as
specified by the PHA and the PHA verifies correction. Life-threatening defects must45 be corrected within 24
hours. All other defects must46 be corrected within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the PHA.
In addition to breaches of HQS caused by the cooperative as addressed in 24 CFR 982.401, breaches of HQS
by the family include any of the following:
• Failure to perform any maintenance for which the family is responsible in accordance with the terms of
the cooperative occupancy agreement between the cooperative member and the cooperative;
• Failure to pay rent for any utilities that the cooperative is not required to pay for, but which are to be
paid for by the cooperative member;
• Failure to provide and maintain any appliances that the cooperative is not required to provide, but
which are to be provided by the cooperative member; or
• Any damages to the dwelling unit or premises (beyond ordinary wear and tear) by any member of the
household or guests.HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 6.2 establishes that standard Housing Quality Standards (HQS) under 24 CFR 982.401 apply to cooperative housing units in the HCV program, with no additional requirements layered on top. If a unit fails to meet HQS, no housing assistance payment may be made until the defect is corrected within the timeframe the PHA specifies—life-threatening defects must be resolved within 24 hours, while other defects must be corrected within a reasonable period. Responsibility for HQS breaches can fall on the cooperative, the family, or both, and the PHA retains broad authority to pursue all available remedies regardless of which party caused the deficiency.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 6.2, PHAs administering HCV assistance in cooperative housing settings are expected to monitor units against the standard HQS framework and verify that all defects are corrected within the timeframes they set. Because the typical PHA remedy structure in 24 CFR 982.404 does not apply in cooperative contexts, operators should be aware that the PHA may exercise any available remedy when HQS is not met, without regard to whether the cooperative or the member family caused the breach. Cooperative housing operators generally maintain clear occupancy agreements that specify each party's maintenance, utility, and appliance responsibilities, since those terms directly inform how HQS breach responsibility is allocated.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 6.2 makes clear that HCV-assisted cooperative members share responsibility for maintaining HQS, and that failures such as neglecting assigned maintenance duties, not paying required utilities, or causing damage beyond ordinary wear and tear can be attributed to the family as an HQS breach. If a unit has HQS deficiencies, housing assistance payments may be suspended until corrections are verified, which can affect a household's housing stability. Cooperative members who believe HQS responsibilities have been misattributed or that the cooperative has failed to make required repairs may consider raising the issue with their local PHA, consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with HCV rules, or reviewing their cooperative occupancy agreement to clarify each party's obligations.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 26, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.