NSPIRE - HUD's New HQS Inspection Standard

Effective October 1, 2025 Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA) Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program has implemented the new Housing Quality Standards (HQS) called: 

National Standards of the Physical Inspection of Real Estate

OCHA hosted training sessions during the month of August. If you attended one of four sessions either in-person or remotely, OCHA would like to take this time to say 'We appreciate you". We thank you for taking the time to learn about this new inspection standard.

For those who were not able to attend any of the scheduled sessions and are interested in learning about the changes, feel free to contact the OCHA main office at 919-245-2490 for details.

What's Next . . . . 

Updates to Voucher Payments and Utility Allowances

Every year HUD reassess the payment standards for areas across the country. This is based on population and income limits of every state, county, and city locations. 

Effective November 1, 2025 OCHA will update its Voucher Payment Standards and its Utility Allowance Schedules. To receive this information, please contact HCV Program Manager, Alycia Brown at albrown@orangecountync.gov.

Are you a landlord who is interested in participating with the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program?

Take a look at this 8 minute video for more information:

Have you decided to participate in OCHA's HCV Program?

If so, we cordially invite you to attend OCHA HCV Landlord Overview Session, which are held every Friday at 10 am. These sessions gives you details of OCHA participation process to become an HCV Landlord. Sessions are held remotely on Microsoft Teams. If you are interested in attending click on this link to register to attend the next one: 

Do you have a vacancy?

Your first step will be to contact Orange County's Housing Access Coordinator, Christopher Jackson at chjackson@orangecountync.gov or (919) 245-6279. 

Landlord Incentive Program

A new program offered by the Orange County Housing and Community Development Department. The program offers a leasing bonus of up to $1,000 when a new landlord signs an initial twelve (12) month lease and a new Housing Assistance Payment contract with a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program participant of the Orange County Housing Authority. 

We are also offering a new $500 referral incentive to current participating landlords that refer a new landlord that signs a lease with one of our HCV holders.

For details click here: HCV Landlord Incentive Program.

HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program General Information

Click below for details and information regarding the HUD Housing Choice Voucher program:

• HCV General Information - Fact Sheet
• Preventing Evictions: Information for HCV Landlords
• HCV General Initial HQS Inspection Flowchart