How to Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home
Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home
United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Consumer Product Safety Commission
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
December 2012
Are You Planning to Buy or Rent a Home Built Before 1978?
Did you know that many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint? Lead from paint, chips, and dust can pose serious health hazards. Read this entire brochure to learn: • • • • How lead gets into the body About health effects of lead What you can do to protect your family Where to go for more information
Before renting or buying a pre-1978 home or apartment, federal law requires: • Sellers must disclose known information on lead-based paint or leadbased paint hazards before selling a house. • Real estate sales contracts must include a specific warning statement about lead-based paint. Buyers have up to 10 days to check for lead. • Landlords must disclose known information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before leases take effect. Leases must include a specific warning statement about lead-based paint. If undertaking renovations, repairs, or painting (RRP) projects in your pre-1978 home or apartment: • Read EPA’s pamphlet, The Lead-Safe Certified Guide to Renovate Right, to learn about the lead-safe work practices that contractors are required to follow when working in your home (see page 12).
Simple Steps to Protect Your Family from Lead Hazards
If you think your home has lead-based paint: • Don’t try to remove lead-based paint yourself. • Always keep painted surfaces in good condition to minimize deterioration. • 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
United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Consumer Product Safety Commission
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
December 2012
Are You Planning to Buy or Rent a Home Built Before 1978?
Did you know that many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint? Lead from paint, chips, and dust can pose serious health hazards. Read this entire brochure to learn: • • • • How lead gets into the body About health effects of lead What you can do to protect your family Where to go for more information
Before renting or buying a pre-1978 home or apartment, federal law requires: • Sellers must disclose known information on lead-based paint or leadbased paint hazards before selling a house. • Real estate sales contracts must include a specific warning statement about lead-based paint. Buyers have up to 10 days to check for lead. • Landlords must disclose known information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before leases take effect. Leases must include a specific warning statement about lead-based paint. If undertaking renovations, repairs, or painting (RRP) projects in your pre-1978 home or apartment: • Read EPA’s pamphlet, The Lead-Safe Certified Guide to Renovate Right, to learn about the lead-safe work practices that contractors are required to follow when working in your home (see page 12).
Simple Steps to Protect Your Family from Lead Hazards
If you think your home has lead-based paint: • Don’t try to remove lead-based paint yourself. • Always keep painted surfaces in good condition to minimize deterioration. • 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