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What To Do If You Think Your Home Has Lead-Based Paint

by | Jun 13, 2019

Download the Current EPA Pamphlet, “Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home”

By Jeff Sorg, OnlineEd Blog

(June 13, 2019)

(PORTLAND, Ore.) OnlineEd -If you think your home has lead-based paint, never try to remove it yourself and always keep painted surfaces in good condition to minimize deterioration. These are some other steps to follow:

  • Get your home checked for lead hazards. Find a certified inspector or risk assessor at epa.gov/lead.
  • Talk to your landlord about fixing surfaces with peeling or chipping paint.
  • Regularly clean floors, window sills, and other surfaces.
  • Take precautions to avoid exposure to lead dust when remodeling.
  • When renovating, repairing, or painting, hire only EPA- or state-approved Lead-Safe certified renovation firms.
  • Before buying, renting, or renovating your home, have it checked for lead-based paint.
  • Consult your health care provider about testing your children for lead. Your pediatrician can check for lead with a simple blood test.
  • Wash children’s hands, bottles, pacifiers, and toys often.
  • Make sure children avoid fatty (or high fat) foods and eat nutritious meals high in iron and calcium.
  • Remove shoes or wipe soil off shoes before entering your house.

Sellers and landlords must disclose known information on lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards before selling or leasing a house built before 1978 and real estate sales contracts and lease agreements must include a specific warning statement about lead-based paint. By law, buyers and renters are given up to 10 days to check for lead before finalizing their decision to buy or rent.

In general, the older your home or childcare facility, the more likely it has lead-based paint. Many homes, including private, federally-assisted, federally-owned housing, and childcare facilities built before 1978 have lead-based paint. In 1978, the federal government banned consumer uses of lead-containing paint.

Click here to download the printer-friendly EPA Pamphlet Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home {free}

Click here to visit the EPA web site for more information about lead.

 

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OnlineEd blog postings are the opinion of the author and not intended as legal or other professional advice. Be sure to consult the appropriate party when professional advice is needed.

For more information about OnlineEd and their education for real estate brokers, principal brokers, property managers, and mortgage brokers visit www.OnlineEd.com.

All information contained in this posting is deemed correct as of the date of publication, but is not guaranteed by the author and may have been obtained from third-party sources. Due to the fluid nature of the subject matter, regulations, requirements and laws, prices and all other information may or may not be correct in the future and should be verified if cited, shared or otherwise republished.

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