Throughout the year, various unit inspections take place to ensure the quality and safety of our housing. Some inspections are conducted by Bickerdike staff, while others are carried out by government and/or financing agencies that help subsidize your apartment, keeping it affordable. These inspections serve to protect both you and Bickerdike, ensuring that your home remains decent, safe, and sanitary.
Apartments are inspected to ensure that quality housing standards are being met. The office will notify you in advance and coordinate all inspections regardless of the type of inspection. All Bickerdike employees wear photo identification badges. If someone attempts to enter your unit who is not properly identified with an identification badge, we strongly recommend that you do not let them in and that you call the office immediately.
You can also register for the Resident Portal here to receive digital notifications of inspections.
Government and Funder Inspections
All properties have utilized a variety of government financing sources to help make them affordable for residents. Many of these sources have their own requirements and conduct their own inspections. These inspections are MANDATORY. Residents will be notified in advance about these inspections and are required to allow inspection of their unit by these agencies. If a resident cannot be at home for one of these inspections, management will enter the unit to allow the inspection to occur.
We are required to comply with the rules and regulations set by these financing agencies in order for us to keep each unit as quality affordable housing in our community. Additionally, for Section 8 units, if the standards are not met and the inspection is failed, the subsidy provided on behalf of the resident may be terminated by HUD or the CHA.
There are some simple but important things you can do to assure your unit and building pass these governmental inspections:
- Make sure all smoke detectors in your unit are in working order. Do not take batteries out of smoke detectors and if you do make sure you replace them immediately. This is considered an “exigent health and safety item” if it is not properly working.
- Make sure all the burners work on your stove and oven. Inspection points are taken off for every burner that does not work. Regular cleaning will prevent clogging. If they are clogged, try using a toothpick or paperclip to clean them or contact the management office who will clean them for a fee.
- Keep your unit and interior stairwells and porches cleaned up. Inspection points are taken away for things like splattered cooking oil on the walls, blocked fire escapes, garbage on porches, etc.
- Report all broken windows to management and we will replace them. Inspection points are taken away for every broken and/or cracked window, even if it is a small crack, or it was broken during the inspection.
- Remove any metal gates on any doors. This is considered a safety hazard.
- Report any refrigerator gasket (the rubber lining around the refrigerator door) which is not in good condition or has pulled away from the door.
- Make sure there is no furniture in front of windows or window air conditioning units installed in rooms that only have one window, since this is considered a safety hazard.
- Report anything to the Management Office that you think needs repair prior to the inspection such as broken outlet cover plates, any window that does not open etc.
- Furnace rooms should never be used as a storage area. Flammable items of any kind should never be placed in the furnace room; this is a fire and safety hazard.
Inspection Types
Management shall conduct an annual inspection of each apartment. These inspections normally take place in coordination with the annual lease renewal process. Annual inspections are conducted to assess housekeeping issues, damages and any repairs which may be needed in the unit.
Significant housekeeping problems or a high amount of tenant damage to the unit, will result in a failed inspection. The resident will be notified in writing and will be scheduled for another inspection approximately 10 days from the initial inspection. If continued problems in the apartment with housekeeping or tenant abuse are found, management may take steps to terminate the residents lease.
Properties:
- All
Properties:
- 1704 N Humboldt
- Harold Washington Apartments
- Victory Apartments Preservation
- West Town Apartments Preservation
Properties:
- All