Four checklists for the road from voucher to front door. Print it, write in it, and keep it in a folder. Free, in English and Spanish.
8 pages, US Letter, prints on a home printer. Updated October 2026.
What is inside
1. Briefing and appointment
What to bring to your voucher briefing, grouped by who you are, who lives with you, your income and your money. Plus the questions to ask before you leave.
2. Unit inspection walk-through
A room by room checklist based on HUD's inspection standards, with the 24 hour and 30 day repair rules in plain words.
3. Move-in day checklist
What to check before you get the keys, what to photograph, and what to do in your first weeks, including the lease and contract checks.
4. Contact sheet and key dates
One page for your housing authority, landlord, utilities and dates, plus a log for every call and letter.
Which inspection rules apply in 2026?
HUD is replacing the older Housing Quality Standards (HQS) with a new inspection standard for voucher programs called NSPIRE. In Notice PIH 2026-18, issued July 15, 2026, HUD says housing authorities may keep using HQS "as previously defined" until February 1, 2027, and must use NSPIRE from that date. Some have already switched.
So right now your unit can be inspected under either one. Ask your housing authority which it uses and ask for its checklist. The pack's walk-through covers items both standards check, such as smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, working outlets, hot water, heat, and no peeling paint, mold or pests.
Who this pack is for
Families who just got a voucher and have a briefing coming up
Voucher holders who are searching for a unit
Families getting ready to move into an approved unit
Could you lose your voucher or your home? The Keep Your Voucher Kit is a plain guide to the moments a family is at risk, plus fill-in sample letters. $12, one time. General information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Section 8 Move-In Pack really free?
Yes. Enter your email and the download link appears on the page right away. We also email you a copy with a few short tips. You can unsubscribe at any time.
What will you do with my email address?
We use it to send you the pack and a few short tips about Section 8. We do not sell it or share it. Every email has an unsubscribe link. See our privacy policy for details.
Does my housing authority inspect under HQS or NSPIRE?
It could be either until February 1, 2027. HUD Notice PIH 2026-18 lets housing authorities keep using HQS "as previously defined" until that date and requires NSPIRE after it. Ask your housing authority which one it uses and ask for its inspection checklist.
Is there a Spanish version?
Yes. The Spanish pack has the same four tools. Use the Spanish page to get it by email or to download it right away.
Is this legal advice?
No. This is general information, not legal advice. We are not lawyers and do not file anything for you. Housing authorities set their own deadlines, so follow the dates on your own notices.
Sources, checked on the dates shown
HUD Notice PIH 2026-18, Implementation of NSPIRE: Administrative Procedures for Voucher Programs, issued July 15, 2026. Checked October 21, 2026.
24 CFR part 982 (Housing Choice Voucher program) and 24 CFR 5.703 (national standards for the condition of HUD housing), eCFR. Checked October 21, 2026.
HUD NSPIRE HCV/PBV Inspection Checklist. Checked October 21, 2026.
HUD, Common Documents for Public Housing and HCV Applicants (HUD Exchange fact sheet). Checked October 21, 2026.