Lead Inspections for Property
Management Companies

Property management companies and landlords are taking on a new liability with fines up to $37,500 for each violation regarding the EPA’s RRP Rule. The rule requires a massive amount of record keeping and for hired contractors to follow ‘lead safe work practices’ when working in a lead environment. Even a simple repair to the structure could possibly disturb lead-based paint and create a hazard. The opt-out clause can still be found on the Renovate Right Form; however, the opt-out provision was eliminated by the EPA on July, 6th 2010.

​

A property manager is typically responsible for hiring handymen and contractors to perform renovations or repairs on a home for the owners. That means they are responsible for all of the record keeping procedures outlined by the EPA in regards to the RRP program. Any violation uncovered in an EPA audit may result in significant fines to the property management company or landlord.

 

Some of the homes built prior to 1978 do not contain lead-based paint. If positive readings are found, they are typically in certain areas. Having the house tested allows the property management company or landlord to greatly reduce liability and paperwork.

​

​

​

If you hire a renovator for remodeling and they use a renovator lead testing kit, there is a good chance the testing kit will produce a false positive. That means the paint that was tested is not contaminated with lead; however, the renovator will be under the impression that it is positive for lead-based paint. This will cause the renovator to perform additional unnecessary work, which then raises the cost of the renovation as well as the record keeping.

 

As you can see, testing for lead as accurately as possible is very important. It will help keep costs down and protect you from hefty fines. The report that stays with the property will also help in the future when selling the property because it has already been tested for lead.

 

You can perform the renovations without testing for lead as long as you assume lead is present in all of the components that will be disturbed. This means setting up a containment to reduce the spread of lead dust and using lead safe work practices during the remodel. This is not cost-effective because the additional work and record keeping may not need to be performed if the paint has been determined to be negative for lead-based paint. Testing a home prior to remodeling is the most efficient way to protect yourself and the public.

 

Contact XRF Services today at 602-689-4573 to schedule a lead inspection on your property. We use an XRF Analyzer which is the most state of the art tool in identifying lead-based paint.