Does Your Property Require Lead Based Paint Testing?
- If your property was built after 1978, no testing is required.
- If you have NO children that are under 6 years of age living in the unit, no testing is required.
If your property was built before 1978 and you have children that are under 6 years of age living in the unit, the following rules apply.
Interior
You may not have more than a total of 2 square feet of disturbed paint surface on any interior surface in a room. (Ceilings + walls + floors = 2 square feet FAIL in any interior room.)
If windowsills, railings, moldings, trim, door casings, etc. have disturbed paint surfaces on more than 10% of the surface area. (Windowsill 20 inches long X 4 inches wide = 4 square inches FAIL.)
Exterior
You may not have more than a total of 20 square feet of disturbed paint surface on any exterior surfaces (Foundations, walls, window frames, soffits, fascia, etc.)
Please be sure before your Annual or Initial Inspection to review these guidelines and eliminate any "disturbed paint surfaces" that would cause your unit to fail the inspection process.
Before renting pre-1978 housing, lessors must disclose the presence of known lead-paint and/or lead-based paint hazards in the dwelling. Lessees must also receive a federally approved pamphlet on lead poisoning prevention. The Massachusetts Tenant Lead Law Notification and Certificate Form are approved for federal compliance. Massachusetts Tenant Lead Law Notification and Certificate Form