diff --git a/openpype/hosts/houdini/api/plugin.py b/openpype/hosts/houdini/api/plugin.py
index d84427bfee..989bae12e3 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/houdini/api/plugin.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/houdini/api/plugin.py
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ class OpenPypeCreatorError(Exception):
 
 class Creator(PypeCreatorMixin, houdini.Creator):
     def process(self):
-        instance = super(houdini.Creator, self).process()
-        # re-raise as standard Python exception so
-        # Avalon can catch it
         try:
+            # re-raise as standard Python exception so
+            # Avalon can catch it
+            instance = super(Creator, self).process()
             self._process(instance)
         except hou.Error as er:
             six.reraise(OpenPypeCreatorError, OpenPypeCreatorError("Creator error"), sys.exc_info()[2])
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/houdini/hooks/set_paths.py b/openpype/hosts/houdini/hooks/set_paths.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cd2f98fb76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openpype/hosts/houdini/hooks/set_paths.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+from openpype.lib import PreLaunchHook
+import os
+
+
+class SetPath(PreLaunchHook):
+    """Set current dir to workdir.
+
+    Hook `GlobalHostDataHook` must be executed before this hook.
+    """
+    app_groups = ["houdini"]
+
+    def execute(self):
+        workdir = self.launch_context.env.get("AVALON_WORKDIR", "")
+        if not workdir:
+            self.log.warning("BUG: Workdir is not filled.")
+            return
+
+        os.chdir(workdir)
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/create/create_alembic_camera.py b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/create/create_alembic_camera.py
index d65e2a5e98..043cd0945f 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/create/create_alembic_camera.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/create/create_alembic_camera.py
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ class CreateAlembicCamera(plugin.Creator):
         if self.nodes:
             node = self.nodes[0]
             path = node.path()
-
             # Split the node path into the first root and the remainder
             # So we can set the root and objects parameters correctly
             _, root, remainder = path.split("/", 2)
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/create/create_composite.py b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/create/create_composite.py
index d19c97de86..e278708076 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/create/create_composite.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/create/create_composite.py
@@ -35,5 +35,10 @@ class CreateCompositeSequence(plugin.Creator):
         # Lock any parameters in this list
         to_lock = ["prim_to_detail_pattern"]
         for name in to_lock:
-            parm = instance.parm(name)
-            parm.lock(True)
+            try:
+                parm = instance.parm(name)
+                parm.lock(True)
+            except AttributeError:
+                # missing lock pattern
+                self.log.debug(
+                    "missing lock pattern {}".format(name))
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/create/create_redshift_rop.py b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/create/create_redshift_rop.py
index 06b70a01c2..6949ca169b 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/create/create_redshift_rop.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/create/create_redshift_rop.py
@@ -38,9 +38,13 @@ class CreateRedshiftROP(plugin.Creator):
         instance.setName(basename + "_ROP", unique_name=True)
 
         # Also create the linked Redshift IPR Rop
-        ipr_rop = self.parent.createNode(
-            "Redshift_IPR", node_name=basename + "_IPR"
-        )
+        try:
+            ipr_rop = self.parent.createNode(
+                "Redshift_IPR", node_name=basename + "_IPR"
+            )
+        except hou.OperationFailed:
+            raise Exception(("Cannot create Redshift node. Is Redshift "
+                             "installed and enabled?"))
 
         # Move it to directly under the Redshift ROP
         ipr_rop.setPosition(instance.position() + hou.Vector2(0, -1))
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/create/create_remote_publish.py b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/create/create_remote_publish.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 18074fa560..0000000000
--- a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/create/create_remote_publish.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,21 +0,0 @@
-from openpype.hosts.houdini.api import plugin
-from openpype.hosts.houdini.api import lib
-
-
-class CreateRemotePublish(plugin.Creator):
-    """Create Remote Publish Submission Settings node."""
-
-    label = "Remote Publish"
-    family = "remotePublish"
-    icon = "cloud-upload"
-
-    def _process(self, instance):
-        """This is a stub creator process.
-
-         This does not create a regular instance that the instance collector
-         picks up. Instead we force this one to solely create something we
-         explicitly want to create. The only reason this class is here is so
-         that Artists can also create the node through the Avalon creator.
-
-         """
-        lib.create_remote_publish_node(force=True)
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/create/create_usd_model.py b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/create/create_usd_model.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 5e6bd9e3b0..0000000000
--- a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/create/create_usd_model.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,40 +0,0 @@
-import re
-from openpype.hosts.houdini.api import plugin
-import hou
-
-
-class CreateUSDModel(plugin.Creator):
-    """Author USD Model"""
-
-    label = "USD Model"
-    family = "usdModel"
-    icon = "gears"
-
-    def _process(self, instance):
-        """Creator main entry point.
-
-        Args:
-            instance (hou.Node): Created Houdini instance.
-
-        """
-        node_type = "op::author_model:1.0"
-
-        subset = self.data["subset"]
-        name = "author_{}".format(subset)
-        variant = re.match("usdModel(.*)", subset).group(1)
-
-        # Get stage root and create node
-        stage = hou.node("/stage")
-        print("creating node {}/{}".format(node_type, name))
-        instance = stage.createNode(node_type, node_name=name)
-        instance.moveToGoodPosition(move_unconnected=True)
-
-        parms = {"asset_name": self.data["asset"], "variant_name": variant}
-
-        # Set the Geo Path to the first selected node (if any)
-        selection = hou.selectedNodes()
-        if selection:
-            node = selection[0]
-            parms["geo_path"] = node.path()
-
-        instance.setParms(parms)
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/create/create_usd_workspaces.py b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/create/create_usd_workspaces.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 0e24ca086b..0000000000
--- a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/create/create_usd_workspaces.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,59 +0,0 @@
-from openpype.hosts.houdini.api import plugin
-import hou
-
-
-class _USDWorkspace(plugin.Creator):
-    """Base class to create pre-built USD Workspaces"""
-
-    node_name = None
-    node_type = None
-    step = None
-    icon = "gears"
-
-    def _process(self, instance):
-        """Creator main entry point.
-
-        Args:
-            instance (hou.Node): Created Houdini instance.
-
-        """
-        if not all([self.node_type, self.node_name, self.step]):
-            self.log.error("Incomplete USD Workspace parameters")
-            return
-
-        name = self.node_name
-        node_type = self.node_type
-
-        # Force the subset to "{asset}.{step}.usd"
-        subset = "usd{step}".format(step=self.step)
-        self.data["subset"] = subset
-
-        # Get stage root and create node
-        stage = hou.node("/stage")
-        instance = stage.createNode(node_type, node_name=name)
-        instance.moveToGoodPosition()
-
-        # With the Workspace HDAs there is no need to imprint the instance data
-        # since this data is pre-built into it. However, we do set the right
-        # asset as that can be defined by the user.
-        parms = {"asset": self.data["asset"]}
-        instance.setParms(parms)
-
-        return instance
-
-
-class USDCreateShadingWorkspace(_USDWorkspace):
-    """USD Shading Workspace"""
-
-    defaults = ["Shade"]
-
-    label = "USD Shading Workspace"
-    family = "colorbleed.shade.usd"
-
-    node_type = "op::shadingWorkspace::1.0"
-    node_name = "shadingWorkspace"
-    step = "Shade"
-
-
-# Don't allow the base class to be picked up by Avalon
-del _USDWorkspace
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/extract_alembic.py b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/extract_alembic.py
index 23f926254b..83b790407f 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/extract_alembic.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/extract_alembic.py
@@ -10,13 +10,10 @@ class ExtractAlembic(openpype.api.Extractor):
     order = pyblish.api.ExtractorOrder
     label = "Extract Alembic"
     hosts = ["houdini"]
-    targets = ["local"]
     families = ["pointcache", "camera"]
 
     def process(self, instance):
 
-        import hou
-
         ropnode = instance[0]
 
         # Get the filename from the filename parameter
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/extract_composite.py b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/extract_composite.py
index 63cee5d9c9..f300b6d28d 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/extract_composite.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/extract_composite.py
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ class ExtractComposite(openpype.api.Extractor):
     order = pyblish.api.ExtractorOrder
     label = "Extract Composite (Image Sequence)"
     hosts = ["houdini"]
-    targets = ["local"]
     families = ["imagesequence"]
 
     def process(self, instance):
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/extract_usd.py b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/extract_usd.py
index ae1dfb3f8f..0fc26900fb 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/extract_usd.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/extract_usd.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ class ExtractUSD(openpype.api.Extractor):
     order = pyblish.api.ExtractorOrder
     label = "Extract USD"
     hosts = ["houdini"]
-    targets = ["local"]
     families = ["usd",
                 "usdModel",
                 "usdSetDress"]
@@ -31,7 +30,13 @@ class ExtractUSD(openpype.api.Extractor):
 
         assert os.path.exists(output), "Output does not exist: %s" % output
 
-        if "files" not in instance.data:
-            instance.data["files"] = []
+        if "representations" not in instance.data:
+            instance.data["representations"] = []
 
-        instance.data["files"].append(file_name)
+        representation = {
+            'name': 'usd',
+            'ext': 'usd',
+            'files': file_name,
+            "stagingDir": staging_dir,
+        }
+        instance.data["representations"].append(representation)
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/extract_usd_layered.py b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/extract_usd_layered.py
index b9741c50ca..645bd05d4b 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/extract_usd_layered.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/extract_usd_layered.py
@@ -155,8 +155,7 @@ class ExtractUSDLayered(openpype.api.Extractor):
     order = pyblish.api.ExtractorOrder
     label = "Extract Layered USD"
     hosts = ["houdini"]
-    targets = ["local"]
-    families = ["colorbleed.usd.layered", "usdShade"]
+    families = ["usdLayered", "usdShade"]
 
     # Force Output Processors so it will always save any file
     # into our unique staging directory with processed Avalon paths
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/extract_vdb_cache.py b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/extract_vdb_cache.py
index 432faf68c3..78794acc97 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/extract_vdb_cache.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/extract_vdb_cache.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import os
 
 import pyblish.api
 import openpype.api
-from openpype.hosts.api.houdini.lib import render_rop
+from openpype.hosts.houdini.api.lib import render_rop
 
 
 class ExtractVDBCache(openpype.api.Extractor):
@@ -10,13 +10,10 @@ class ExtractVDBCache(openpype.api.Extractor):
     order = pyblish.api.ExtractorOrder + 0.1
     label = "Extract VDB Cache"
     families = ["vdbcache"]
-    targets = ["local"]
     hosts = ["houdini"]
 
     def process(self, instance):
 
-        import hou
-
         ropnode = instance[0]
 
         # Get the filename from the filename parameter
@@ -36,8 +33,8 @@ class ExtractVDBCache(openpype.api.Extractor):
             instance.data["representations"] = []
 
         representation = {
-            "name": "mov",
-            "ext": "mov",
+            "name": "vdb",
+            "ext": "vdb",
             "files": output,
             "stagingDir": staging_dir,
         }
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/validate_outnode_exists.py b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/validate_outnode_exists.py
deleted file mode 100644
index aedc68d5df..0000000000
--- a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/validate_outnode_exists.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,50 +0,0 @@
-import pyblish.api
-import openpype.api
-
-
-class ValidatOutputNodeExists(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
-    """Validate if node attribute Create intermediate Directories is turned on.
-
-    Rules:
-        * The node must have Create intermediate Directories turned on to
-        ensure the output file will be created
-
-    """
-
-    order = openpype.api.ValidateContentsOrder
-    families = ["*"]
-    hosts = ["houdini"]
-    label = "Output Node Exists"
-
-    def process(self, instance):
-        invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
-        if invalid:
-            raise RuntimeError("Could not find output node(s)!")
-
-    @classmethod
-    def get_invalid(cls, instance):
-
-        import hou
-
-        result = set()
-
-        node = instance[0]
-        if node.type().name() == "alembic":
-            soppath_parm = "sop_path"
-        else:
-            # Fall back to geometry node
-            soppath_parm = "soppath"
-
-        sop_path = node.parm(soppath_parm).eval()
-        output_node = hou.node(sop_path)
-
-        if output_node is None:
-            cls.log.error("Node at '%s' does not exist" % sop_path)
-            result.add(node.path())
-
-        # Added cam as this is a legit output type (cameras can't
-        if output_node.type().name() not in ["output", "cam"]:
-            cls.log.error("SOP Path does not end path at output node")
-            result.add(node.path())
-
-        return result
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/houdini/startup/scripts/123.py b/openpype/hosts/houdini/startup/scripts/123.py
index 6d90b8352e..4233d68c15 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/houdini/startup/scripts/123.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/houdini/startup/scripts/123.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 from avalon import api, houdini
-import hou
 
 
 def main():