Information for Property Owners of Rental Housing, Child-Occupied Facilities
Property owners who renovate, repair, or prepare surfaces for painting in pre-1978 rental housing or space rented by child-care facilities must, before beginning work, provide tenants with a copy of EPA’s lead hazard information pamphlet Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools Owners of these rental properties must document compliance with this requirement After April 22, 2010, property owners who perform these projects in pre-1978 rental housing or space rented by child-care facilities must be certified and must follow the lead-safe work practices required by EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Remodeling rule.
To become certified, property owners must submit an application for firm certification and fee payment to EPA. EPA began processing applications on October 22, 2009. The Agency has up to 90 days after receiving a complete request for certification to approve or disapprove the application.
Property owners who perform renovation, repairs, and painting jobs in rental property should also:
- Take training to learn how to perform lead-safe work practices.
- Learn the lead laws that apply to you regarding certification and lead-safe work practices beginning April 22, 2010.
- Keep records to demonstrate that you and your workers have been trained in lead-safe work practices and that you follow lead-safe work practices on the job. Read about how to comply with EPA’s rule in the EPA Small Entity Compliance Guide to Renovate Right
Information for Tenants and Families of Children under Age 6 in Child Care Facilities and Schools
As a tenant or a parent or guardian of children in a child care facility or school, you should know your rights when a renovation job is performed in your home, or in the child care facility or school that your child attends.
- Before starting a renovation in residential buildings built before 1978, the contractor or property owner is required to have tenants sign a pre-renovation disclosure form (PDF) (1 pp, 53K), which indicates that the tenant received the Renovate Right lead hazard information pamphlet.
- Beginning in December 2008, the contractor must also make renovation information available to the parents or guardians of children under age six that attend child care facilities and schools, and to provide to owners and administrators of pre-1978 child care facilities and schools to be renovated a copy of EPA’s Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (PDF) lead hazard information pamphlet
Who Must Follow the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule’s Requirements?
In general, anyone who is paid to perform work that disturbs paint in housing and child-occupied facilities built before 1978, this may include, but is not limited to:
- Residential rental property owners/managers
- General contractors
- Special trade contractors, including
- Painters
- Plumbers
- Carpenters
- Electricians
What Activities Are Subject to the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program?
In general, any activity that disturbs paint in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities, including:
- Remodeling and repair/maintenance
- Electrical work
- Plumbing
- Painting preparation
- Carpentry
- Window replacement
What Housing or Activities Are Excluded and Not Subject to the Rule?
- Housing built in 1978 or later.
- Housing for elderly or disabled persons, unless children under 6 reside or are expected to reside there
- Zero-bedroom dwellings (studio apartments, dormitories, etc.).
- Housing or components that have been declared lead-free. Such a declaration can be made by a certified inspector or risk assessor. Also, a certified renovator may declare specific components lead-free using an EPA recognized test kit.
- Minor repair and maintenance activities that disturb 6 square feet or less of paint per room inside, or 20 square feet or less on the exterior of a home or building.
- Note: minor repair and maintenance activities do not include Window replacement and projects involving demolition or prohibited practices.
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL REIA TO REQUEST TRAINING IN YOUR AREA
CALL NATIONAL REIA FOR MOR INFORMATION
VISIT NATIONAL REIA WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LAW
