(a) Inspections.
(1) Initial inspection arranged by the Administrator
is required and must identify the accessibility modifications needed
by the Person with Disability; assess and document the condition of
the property; and identify all deficiencies that constitute life-threatening
hazards and unsafe conditions.
(2) Final inspection arranged by the Administrator
is required and must verify, assess, and document that all construction
activities have been repaired, replaced, and/or installed in a professional
manner consistent with all applicable building codes and Program requirements,
and as required in the Work Write-Up as described in subsection (e)
of this section.
(b) A Manufactured Housing Unit may be eligible for
Program assistance if it was constructed on or after January 1, 1995.
The Department may allow Manufactured Housing Units older than January
1, 1995, to receive only exterior accessibility modifications (i.e.,
ramps, handrails, concrete flatwork) as long as the Administrator
can verify that the unit itself will be free of hazardous and unsafe
conditions.
(c) Construction standards.
(1) Administrator must follow all applicable sections
of local building codes and ordinances, pursuant to Section 214.212
of the Local Government Code. Where local codes do not exist, the
2015 International Residential Code (IRC), including Appendix J for
Existing Buildings and Structures, is the applicable code for the
Program.
(2) Accessibility modifications shall be made with
consideration to 2010 American Disability Act (ADA) Standards, but
may vary from the ADA Standards in order to meet specific accessibility
needs of the household as requested and agreed to by the assisted
household.
(3) Administrators must adhere to Chapter 21 of this
title, (relating to Minimum Energy Efficiency Requirements for Single
Family Construction Activities).
(4) Administrators and subcontractors must honor a
twelve-month warranty on all completed items in their scope of work.
(d) Life-threatening hazards and unsafe conditions.
(1) Administrators may make repairs to eliminate life-threatening
hazards and correct unsafe conditions in the Single-Family Housing
as long as no more than 25% of the Project Hard Costs budget is utilized
for this purpose, unless otherwise approved by the Department.
(2) Life-threatening hazards and unsafe conditions
include, but are not limited to: faulty or damaged electrical systems;
faulty or damaged gas-fueled systems; faulty, damaged or absent heating
and cooling systems; faulty or damaged plumbing systems, including
sanitary sewer systems; faulty, damaged or absent smoke, fire and
carbon monoxide detection/alarm systems; structural systems on the
verge of collapse or failure; environmental hazards such as mold,
lead-based paint, asbestos or radon; serious pest infestation; absence
of adequate emergency escape and rescue openings and fire egress;
and the absence of ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) and arc
fault circuit interrupters (AFCI) in applicable locations.
(3) If the work write-up addresses any of the following
line items, the percentage of Project Hard Costs devoted to eliminating
substandard, unsafe conditions may only exceed 25% by the amount of
the following line item's cost: emergency escape, rescue openings
and fire egress; ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI); arc fault
circuit interrupters (AFCI); and smoke, fire, and carbon monoxide
detection/alarm systems. The combination of these line items plus
the correction of any other unsafe conditions cannot exceed 40% of
Project Hard Costs budget.
(4) All areas and components of the Single-Family
Housing Unit must be free of life-threatening hazards and unsafe conditions
at project completion.
(e) Work-Write Ups. The Department shall review work-write
ups (also referred to as "scope of work") and cost estimates prior
to the Administrator soliciting bids.
(f) Bids. The Department shall review all line item
bids Administrator selects for award prior to the commencement of
construction. Lump sum bids will not be accepted.
(g) Change orders. An Administrator seeking a change
order must obtain written Department approval prior to the commencement
of any work related to the proposed change. Failure to get prior Departmental
approval may result in disallowed costs.
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