Attention: Parkowners with Park Owned Rentals

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revised its Lead-Based Paint Renovation and Repair Regulations and now requires property owners and management companies to implement lead-safe work practices and certification training for paid contractors and maintenance professionals working in pre-1978 housing.

Information for Property Owners of Rental Housing, Child-Occupied Facilities

Property owners who renovate, repair, or prepare surfaces for painting in pre-1978 rental housing or space rented by child-care facilities must, before beginning work, provide tenants with a copy of EPA's lead hazard information pamphlet Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (en español). Owners of these rental properties must document compliance with this requirement — EPA's sample pre-renovation disclosure form may be used for this purpose. "Target housing" means any housing constructed prior to 1978, except housing for the elderly or persons with disabilities (unless any one or more children age 6 years or under resides or is expected to reside in such housing for the elderly or persons with disabilities) or any 0-bedroom dwelling.

After April 22, 2010, property owners who perform these projects in pre-1978 rental housing or space rented by child-care facilities must be certified and follow the lead-safe work practices required by EPA's Renovation, Repair and Remodeling rule. To become certified, property owners must submit an application for firm certification and fee payment to EPA. EPA will begin processing applications on October 22, 2009. The Agency has up to 90 days after receiving a complete request for certification to approve or disapprove the application. Read more about EPA's rules and lead-safe work practices in EPA's pamphlet Contractors: Lead Safety During Renovation (en español). Property owners who perform renovation, repairs, and painting jobs in rental property should also:

• Take training to learn how to perform lead-safe work practices.
• Learn the lead laws that apply to you regarding certification and lead-safe work practices beginning in April 2010
• Keep records to demonstrate that you and your workers have been trained in lead-safe work practices and that you followed lead-safe work practices on the job. To make recordkeeping easier, you may use the sample recordkeeping checklist that EPA has developed to help contractors comply with the renovation recordkeeping requirements that will take effect in April 2010.
• Read about how to comply with EPA's rule in the EPA Small Entity Compliance Guide to Renovate Right (en español).
• Read about how to use lead-safe work practices in EPA's Steps to Lead Safe Renovation, Repair and Painting (en español).

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