Develop and implement an action plan that includes sufficient policies, procedures, and controls that address households living in multifamily housing units having a sufficient supply of safe drinking water […]

Status

In April 2022, HUD created draft standard operating procedures to address lead in the water of its multifamily housing units. On May 11, 2023, HUD published its National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) regulations that addressed lead in the water. Further, on June 30, 2023, HUD published its Implementation of National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate Administrative Procedures, which requires property owners and agents to provide information about water supply providers and water safety alerts, if applicable, prior to the commencement of a Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) inspection. As a result, the Office of Multifamily Housing is revising its procedures and consulting with the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH). As of July 2025, the Office of Multifamily has developed standard operating procedures for its field office staff and plans to issue additional guidance to HUD staff and multifamily property owners on addressing lead in the water for multifamily properties. Although the final action target date has passed, the guidance is undergoing HUD's internal review clearance process. However, HUD did not provide an estimated date for issuance of guidance to close the recommendation.

Analysis

To fully address this recommendation, the Office of Multifamily Housing must provide evidence of an action plan or policy that includes procedures to ensure households living in multifamily units have a sufficient supply of safe drinking water.

Implementation of this recommendation will enable HUD to have sufficient oversight and control activities in place to ensure households living in multifamily housing have a sufficient supply of safe drinking water.