Dayton · GDPM-adjacent · Landlords
Dayton landlord prep checklist — before HQS or NSPIRE day.
If you rent to voucher / assisted tenants in the Dayton area, inspection day is about access, utilities, and fixing what the standard actually cares about. This page is a plain-English prep list for landlords and property managers — not Greater Dayton Premier Management’s (GDPM) official rulebook.
- HQS → clear pass or fail (Form HUD-52580 / 52580-A when required)
- NSPIRE → scored / graded findings by defect severity — not pass/fail
- GDPM sets the official calendar and program outcome. A readiness / mock walk from ATK is not the official GDPM inspection and does not guarantee a pass, a score, or program approval.
- Confirm current GDPM / PHA repair windows for life-threatening vs non–life-threatening items. Timelines are program-specific — this page is not GDPM policy.
- Prep for the standard your notice uses — HQS, NSPIRE, or a readiness walk before the official date.
- Contact: email [email protected].
Before anyone walks the unit
Access
- Adult with keys on site (or lockbox + code shared)
- All rooms unlocked: basement, attic access, garage, outbuildings if part of the unit
- Pets secured
Utilities & habitability basics
- Electric on
- Gas on (if equipped)
- Water on; water heater working
- Heat available in season
Paperwork / booking
- Know whether this visit is HQS, NSPIRE, or a readiness walk
- Unit address, bedroom count, and who to call if something is locked
- Prior inspection notes pulled (if this is a re-check)
After the inspection: what to fix first
If this is an HQS inspection
HQS ends in a pass or fail. A fail is not the end of the job — it is a list of what to fix.
- Get the fail reasons in writing (what failed, where).
- Sort life-threatening vs other items (see below).
- Fix within the window your PHA / GDPM program requires — confirm current deadlines with them.
- Request re-inspection when repairs are done.
- When required, Form HUD-52580 / 52580-A records what was observed on site. The HCV program outcome remains the PHA’s call.
If this is an NSPIRE inspection
NSPIRE is a scored / graded standard by defect severity — it does not end in a pass/fail label.
- Get the scored / graded findings (what was observed, and severity where noted).
- Prioritize life-threatening defects first, then non–life-threatening items.
- Repair against the findings and your program’s rules.
- Follow up if the PHA / program requires a re-walk after scored deficiencies.
- The PHA or program applies its own rules to those results. ATK documents the visit.
Life-threatening vs non–life-threatening
Use these categories so crews fix the right things first. Exact GDPM deadlines are theirs to publish — ask GDPM or your program for current repair windows.
Treat as life-threatening urgency (examples — not a complete code list)
- No working smoke / CO protection where required
- Gas leak smell or unsafe combustion
- Exposed live electrical hazards
- No working heat when required for weather / program rules
- Blocked egress (can’t get out in a fire)
- Sewage backup or major sanitary hazard in the living space
Landlord action: make it safe now, then confirm GDPM’s required notice and repair timeline.
Treat as non–life-threatening (still must fix — examples)
- Damaged but non-critical surfaces, hardware, screens
- Minor plumbing drips without a sewage hazard
- Missing or damaged weatherization that is not an immediate life-safety issue
- Deferred maintenance called out on the report
Landlord action: schedule repairs inside your program’s window; keep receipts and photos if your PHA asks.
NSPIRE note: severity levels (including life-threatening vs non–life-threatening) feed NSPIRE scoring / grading — they are not a pass/fail result.
Room-by-room quick scan
A landlord walk to catch obvious issues before the official day — not a substitute for the HQS or NSPIRE protocol.
Exterior / entry
- Address visible
- Steps and rails secure
- No major trip hazards on the approach
Kitchen
- Sink works; no active leaks
- Stove / oven operates (if provided)
- GFCI protection where required
Bath
- Toilet, sink, tub / shower work
- Fan or openable window for ventilation where expected
- No active leaks or soft floors
Bedrooms / living
- Outlets and lights work
- Windows open and lock as designed
- Smoke alarms present and working
Mechanical / utility
- Water heater area clear and dry
- Furnace area accessible; filter not clogged
- Electrical panel cover on; no open splices
Safety
- Egress paths clear
- Handrails where stairs need them
- No obvious hazards along the inspector’s path
A mock walk is not the official GDPM inspection
| ATK readiness / mock walk | Official GDPM / PHA inspection | |
|---|---|---|
| Who decides the program outcome | Does not | GDPM / PHA |
| Purpose | Surface likely issues; set fix order | Official HQS pass/fail, or NSPIRE scored / graded results, under their rules |
| Guarantee | None | ATK cannot promise their result |
| Paperwork | Readiness notes | Their forms and calendar |
Plainly: a prep walk helps you fix things before the official date. It is not a GDPM stamp, not HUD approval, and not a guaranteed HQS pass or NSPIRE score.
What ATK can do in Dayton
- HQS certified on-site inspections (pass/fail · HUD-52580 when required)
- NSPIRE inspections, protocol support, and readiness consulting (trained on NSPIRE · scored / graded findings)
- Familiar with Yardi and Emphasys when those systems are part of your workflow
- Southwest Ohio coverage including Dayton — travel for larger jobs when the schedule allows
Credentials listed separately: HQS certified · Ohio home inspector OHI.2019006734 · trained on NSPIRE (not “NSPIRE certified”).
Short FAQ
Is this GDPM’s official checklist?
No. It is ATK’s landlord prep guide for Dayton-area HQS and NSPIRE work. Confirm current GDPM rules with GDPM.
Do you guarantee we’ll pass with GDPM?
No. ATK documents what is observed on the visit — HQS pass/fail, or NSPIRE scored / graded findings. Program outcomes stay with GDPM or your PHA.
HQS or NSPIRE — which do I prep for?
Prep for the standard on your notice or engagement. When unsure, email ATK with what GDPM or your program scheduled.
How do I book?
Email [email protected] with the city, unit count, and HQS / NSPIRE / readiness consulting. No public phone.
Dayton HQS & NSPIRE · HUD-52580 · HQS vs NSPIRE · Readiness consulting · FAQ
Email before the official date with: Dayton-area city · unit count · HQS / NSPIRE / readiness · official date if known.