LEAD PAINT LAW GOES INTO EFFECT:

July 4, 2005

The state’s Lead Hazard Miti-gation Law went into effect July 1. The law requires all rental property owners to take a three-hour lead hazard awareness class and meet and maintain the lead hazard mitigation standard, which means the property has been inspected for lead hazards in and around the property.

But most rental property owners do not have to have their property inspected until their tenants change or someone complains. The law applies about 80 percent of the state’s housing stock–homes built before 1978, when it was likely lead-based paint was used in a house.

Rental property owners must conduct a visual inspection, fix any hazards, give tenants information about lead hazards, respond to tenant concerns, perform regular maintenance according to lead compliance mitigation standards and have the property inspected to obtain a certificate of conformance when there is a tenant change. Then, a certified lead inspector must examine the property.

The state reported that more than 12,000 people have taken the lead hazard awareness class, up from 7,000 last year.

After July 1, a property owner’s insurance coverage may be affected based on their compliance or noncompliance with the law. After the law goes into effect, property owners will cease to be covered by the “innocent owner” provision of the law–which means landlords can be held responsible for any cases of lead poisoning on their property after July 1.

Topics Property

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Insurance Journal Magazine July 4, 2005
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