Should I worry about lead-based paint?
My service area is more than 150 years old (Los Angeles) and most of the homes that I inspect have this as an issue:
Lead-based paint remains a serious threat to children’s health and well-being. Consider the following facts:
· An estimated 890,000 U.S. children have too much lead in their bodies.
· Nationwide, an estimated 38 million homes have lead-based paint.
· The most common sources of lead hazards are generated in a residential environment.
To better protect young children from the dangers of lead-based paint in their homes, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has issued The Lead Safe Housing Rule (24 CFR 35). Under the new Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009), grantees administering HPRP financial assistance must comply with the Lead Safe Housing Rule. HPRP financial assistance includes short- and medium-term rental assistance, as well as one-time rent payments, rental and utility arrears payments, security deposits, utility deposits, and utility assistance. The rule applies to all units built before January 1978 in which children under the age of six years will be living in the next 12 months.
Fred Sweezer Sr
FHA Compliance Inspector T477
FHA 203K Consultant S712
Certified Home Inspector
Certified Renovator Inspector
www.thelongbeachhomeinspector.com
1-562-234-2689
Real Estate Q&A
Q. So many homes in my price range were built before 1978… Should I worry about lead-based paint?
A. Across Maryland and the United States, there are many homes which were built before 1978 - the year when lead-based paint was banned in residential property.
Federal and State regulations exist to protect occupants of homes where lead-based paint may have been used prior to 1978. For example, sellers and landlords across America are required to provide home buyers and tenants with a booklet produced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) titled Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home. All parties to a sale or lease of any home built before 1978 must sign the Disclosure of Information on Lead-Based Paint and Lead-Based Paint Hazards.
In Maryland, buyers of homes built before 1978 have a 10–day window to obtain an assessment or inspection by someone certified by the Maryland Department of the Environment. Maryland REALTORS use a Lead Based Paint Inspection Addendum and a disclosure regarding the Maryland Lead Poisoning Prevention Program as part of the offer to purchase/contract for these older homes.
When a client asks me whether they should be concerned about lead in a Crofton area home built before 1978, it would be foolish for me to do anything other than refer them to these official documents and suggest they obtain a lead inspection.
Most home buyers are apparently satisfied with the results of their inspection, since older homes change hands every day, but that alone is not adequate justification for waiving the opportunity to have an inspection.
Better to be safe than sorry, when it comes to the well-being of your family!
Samples of the publications mentioned in this post are available for download on my website, MargaretWoda.com.
Posted originally to FocusOnCrofton.com on May 4, 2012 by Margaret Woda
Copyright 2006-12. All rights reserved.
DISCLAIMER: Information contained in this post is deemed reliable on the date of publication, but it is not guaranteed and it is subject to change without notice.
__________________________________
Margaret Woda, REALTOR and Associate Broker
Direct: (301)346-2923 or click on EMAILFREE home search online (No registration required)
FREE home search APP for your iPhone/iPad (demo)
FREE online relocation information
Check my reviews on ZillowLong & Foster Real Estate, Inc., 2191 Defense Hwy., Crofton, MD 21114 (410) 721-1500
Comments(1)