Chair Hudson questions third-party inspector costs and virtual inspection methods
Hudson asks about the anticipated cost of pre-qualified third-party inspectors for new buildings. Scott French says costs are still being developed with HPD. Hudson also asks whether virtual inspections are limited to video tools like WhatsApp and FaceTime; French confirms live walkthroughs.
And then before I continue my question, I do want to just go to your testimony, if I may, Commissioner, and just ask a couple of quick questions.
You mentioned with regards to Intro 98 that you're exploring the establishment of a pre-qualified list for third-party inspectors to allow approved organizations to inspect and approve vacant apartments prior to occupancy in all newly constructed buildings.
Do you anticipate a particular cost for that?
I think that's still being developed with our partners at HPD as well, so we don't have that cost yet, but it's something that's actively being worked on.
Okay.
And then I want to confirm, you mentioned virtual inspections have been a valuable tool.
Is that just limited to, or do you classify WhatsApp and FaceTime inspections as virtual inspections, or are there other types of virtual inspections?
Other than WhatsApp or FaceTime.
We mentioned, thank you for that question, Council Member.
We mentioned WhatsApp and FaceTime because they're the most prevalent ones that are used.
If you have an Android phone, everyone has WhatsApp.
If it's an iPhone, then it's the FaceTime.
I think there's other technology that offers video conferencing, but those are the main ones.
Okay, but it's all video conferencing.
I just worry with the word of virtual, that is a very broad description.
And so with AI and everything else that we know is going on, I want to just make sure that it's actual video.
Software that's being used as opposed to just some sort of like virtual tool.
Yeah, we are walking through with them as they do it.
It's virtually in regards to they're taking us through as they take the readings.
They need to show that reading on the screen so that the staff person can look at it and affirm that the readings are within appropriate levels and those aspects of it.
Yeah, it is a we're walking through together.
Just one person is virtually on the camera.
Yeah, okay.
Thank you.
Just wanted to confirm.