​Minimum Housing Standards (MHS)

About MHS Inspection:

The goal of DHAP is to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing. The City has set forth basic Minimum Housing Standards (MHS) that all units must satisfy prior to the close of escrow. The primary objective of these standards is to assure a basic level of acceptable housing, which focuses on health and safety concerns and the functionality of systems throughout the home. 

Authorized representatives of the City of Dallas must make a determination of the structures’ MHS acceptability, regardless of the participant’s possible willingness to accept any deficient condition. MHS review results may not be relied upon by the applicant, for anything other than satisfying DHAP requirements.


MHS Initial Review​​

  • Once the purchase contract has been executed, DHAP lenders request the MHS Inspection .  This should be done swiftly, to ensure that the MHS Review is performed during the option period of the purchase contract.
  • To request an MHS review, the party attempting to initiate the review must do so by completing and submitting the following Initial MHS Review Request Form and MHS Review Seller Disclosure Form:
  • The form must be completed, and forwarded to the City, along with the attached MHS Review Seller Disclosure via email to DHAPInspections@dallascityhall.com.
  • Within 48 hours of the submission of the request, a representative of the City of Dallas will contact the requesting party to confirm the time and date of the review.


MHS Final Review

  • To request a Final MHS Review, the party attempting to initiate the review must do so by completing and submitting the following Final MHS Review Request Form:
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  • The form must be completed, and forwarded to the City via email to DHAPInspections@dallascityhall.com.
  • Within 48 hours of the submission of the request, a representative of the City of Dallas will contact the requesting party to confirm the time and date of the final review.

 



TREC Inspection:

It is recommended that applicants obtain a Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) property inspection, but it is not a requirement to access DHAP.  Information obtained in the TREC inspection does not have any bearing on the DHAP application.  TREC inspections are much more detailed than MHS reviews and result in a contractual relationship between the TREC inspector and the applicant. 

An applicant may select any TREC licensed inspector.  Should questions surface about information contained in such TREC inspection, before or after the purchase of the home, the matter should be resolved between the TREC inspector and the applicant.  It is not the responsibility of the City of Dallas to address such questions or resolve any issues associated with a TREC inspection.


DHAPInspections@dallascityhall.com  |  214-670-3644