EPA Releases Updated Resources to Ensure Renters and Buyers are Informed of Lead Hazards
Released October 21, 2024
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced updated sample lead disclosure forms that will give renters and homebuyers clearer and more specific information about lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards in pre-1978 housing they are considering buying or renting. EPA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) also updated a factsheet concerning lead disclosure. These updates are part of EPA’s ongoing efforts to reduce lead exposure risks and enhance public health protections by ensuring tenants and buyers are informed about potential lead hazards in their homes.
There is no safe level of lead exposure, particularly for children. In children, lead can severely harm mental and physical development, slow down learning, and irreversibly damage the brain. In adults, lead can cause increased blood pressure, heart disease, decreased kidney function, and may cause cancer.
In 1978, the federal government banned consumer uses of lead-based paint, but it is still present in millions of older homes built prior to that year. When lead-based paint is properly maintained, the paint is usually not a hazard. However, deteriorating (peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking, or damaged) lead-based paint is a hazard and needs prompt attention. Federal law requires sellers, landlords, real estate agents and property managers to provide specific information about lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before prospective renters and homebuyers sign a lease or contract. This requirement applies to most pre-1978 private housing, public housing, federally owned housing, and housing receiving federal assistance. They can use EPA’s sample disclosure form for this purpose. If sellers, landlords, real estate agents or property managers choose to use EPA’s sample forms, they should now use the updated forms, rather than the old ones. The updated forms are available in English and Spanish.
The updated forms ask landlords and sellers to describe what is known about the presence of lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards in the housing. In contrast, the old forms previously only asked sellers, landlords and property managers to indicate whether hazards did – or did not -- exist. The updated forms also allow renters or buyers to indicate whether or not they received all records and reports relating to lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards in the housing, such as a lead-based paint inspection or a lead-based paint risk assessment report. Previously, renters or buyers could only confirm if they had received copies of all this information.
In addition to EPA updating its sample lead disclosure forms, EPA and HUD also updated the Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule Fact Sheet, which helps inform the public about their right to know whether lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards are present before signing a contract or lease. The fact sheet was originally published in 1996.
If you have bought or leased pre-1978 housing and did not receive a disclosure of information on lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards form, report this disclosure violation to epa.gov/lead/violation or leadregulations@hud.gov.
View and download the updated sample lead disclosure forms.
View and download the Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule Fact Sheet