Certified Occupancy Specialist (COS) Exam
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A |
Instant Download Pdf
1. Which of the following best describes the primary responsibility of
a Certified Occupancy Specialist?
A. Conducting building inspections for fire safety
B. Assisting tenants with lease compliance and occupancy
standards
C. Supervising construction projects
D. Drafting property tax assessments
B
COS professionals focus on occupancy standards and tenant lease
compliance, ensuring properties meet HUD or local requirements.
2. When conducting an occupancy inspection, which document is
most important to verify tenant eligibility?
A. Utility bills
B. Lease agreement and HUD certification forms
C. Previous landlord references
D. Vehicle registration
B
Lease agreements and HUD forms confirm the tenant meets
program eligibility requirements.
,3. What is the purpose of an interim recertification?
A. To establish new rent rates
B. To update household information due to changes in income or
family composition
C. To inspect the property for structural damage
D. To renew the property’s insurance
B
Interim recertifications ensure that any changes affecting eligibility
or rent are promptly updated.
4. When verifying income for a tenant, the COS should:
A. Accept verbal statements only
B. Review third-party documentation such as pay stubs or tax
returns
C. Base verification solely on social media profiles
D. Assume previous income levels remain unchanged
B
Third-party documentation ensures accuracy and compliance with
HUD guidelines.
5. Which type of income is NOT counted when determining tenant
eligibility?
A. Wages
B. Social Security benefits
C. Child support
D. Income from assets below a certain threshold
D
Certain asset income below thresholds is exempt to prevent
penalizing low-asset households.
,6. The “household composition” of a tenant refers to:
A. The number of pets in the home
B. The family members or individuals residing in the unit
C. The furniture arrangement
D. The building layout
B
Household composition determines occupancy standards, rent
calculations, and eligibility.
7. What is the maximum time allowed for a COS to complete an
interim recertification after receiving notification of a change?
A. 5 business days
B. 30 days
C. 90 days
D. 120 days
B
HUD requires interim recertifications to be processed within 30
days of reported changes.
8. Which action should a COS take if a tenant refuses to provide
requested documentation for recertification?
A. Terminate the lease immediately
B. Document the refusal and follow program procedures, which
may include termination notices
C. Accept verbal confirmation only
D. Ignore the missing documentation
B
Proper documentation and compliance with program rules protect
the agency and maintain fairness.
, 9. What is considered an acceptable form of income verification?
A. Pay stubs, employer letters, bank statements
B. Social media posts
C. Personal reference letters
D. Informal emails
A
HUD requires verifiable and reliable documentation, not informal
or unverifiable sources.
10. When assessing unit size eligibility, the COS should follow:
A. The tenant’s preference for extra space
B. The occupancy standards defined by HUD
C. Local real estate trends
D. Landlord discretion
B
HUD occupancy standards prevent overcrowding and
underutilization of units.
11. What is the primary purpose of the HUD 50058 form?
A. Document tenant complaints
B. Report household composition, income, and program
participation
C. Track building maintenance
D. Submit tax records to the IRS
B
The HUD 50058 ensures accurate reporting for program
compliance and funding.
12. A tenant reports an increase in household income. The COS
should:
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A |
Instant Download Pdf
1. Which of the following best describes the primary responsibility of
a Certified Occupancy Specialist?
A. Conducting building inspections for fire safety
B. Assisting tenants with lease compliance and occupancy
standards
C. Supervising construction projects
D. Drafting property tax assessments
B
COS professionals focus on occupancy standards and tenant lease
compliance, ensuring properties meet HUD or local requirements.
2. When conducting an occupancy inspection, which document is
most important to verify tenant eligibility?
A. Utility bills
B. Lease agreement and HUD certification forms
C. Previous landlord references
D. Vehicle registration
B
Lease agreements and HUD forms confirm the tenant meets
program eligibility requirements.
,3. What is the purpose of an interim recertification?
A. To establish new rent rates
B. To update household information due to changes in income or
family composition
C. To inspect the property for structural damage
D. To renew the property’s insurance
B
Interim recertifications ensure that any changes affecting eligibility
or rent are promptly updated.
4. When verifying income for a tenant, the COS should:
A. Accept verbal statements only
B. Review third-party documentation such as pay stubs or tax
returns
C. Base verification solely on social media profiles
D. Assume previous income levels remain unchanged
B
Third-party documentation ensures accuracy and compliance with
HUD guidelines.
5. Which type of income is NOT counted when determining tenant
eligibility?
A. Wages
B. Social Security benefits
C. Child support
D. Income from assets below a certain threshold
D
Certain asset income below thresholds is exempt to prevent
penalizing low-asset households.
,6. The “household composition” of a tenant refers to:
A. The number of pets in the home
B. The family members or individuals residing in the unit
C. The furniture arrangement
D. The building layout
B
Household composition determines occupancy standards, rent
calculations, and eligibility.
7. What is the maximum time allowed for a COS to complete an
interim recertification after receiving notification of a change?
A. 5 business days
B. 30 days
C. 90 days
D. 120 days
B
HUD requires interim recertifications to be processed within 30
days of reported changes.
8. Which action should a COS take if a tenant refuses to provide
requested documentation for recertification?
A. Terminate the lease immediately
B. Document the refusal and follow program procedures, which
may include termination notices
C. Accept verbal confirmation only
D. Ignore the missing documentation
B
Proper documentation and compliance with program rules protect
the agency and maintain fairness.
, 9. What is considered an acceptable form of income verification?
A. Pay stubs, employer letters, bank statements
B. Social media posts
C. Personal reference letters
D. Informal emails
A
HUD requires verifiable and reliable documentation, not informal
or unverifiable sources.
10. When assessing unit size eligibility, the COS should follow:
A. The tenant’s preference for extra space
B. The occupancy standards defined by HUD
C. Local real estate trends
D. Landlord discretion
B
HUD occupancy standards prevent overcrowding and
underutilization of units.
11. What is the primary purpose of the HUD 50058 form?
A. Document tenant complaints
B. Report household composition, income, and program
participation
C. Track building maintenance
D. Submit tax records to the IRS
B
The HUD 50058 ensures accurate reporting for program
compliance and funding.
12. A tenant reports an increase in household income. The COS
should:
