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Your Ultimate Guide To Lead-Based Paint in Rental Apartments

Name: Exit Mold
Address: 1 Irwin Ct., Lynbrook, New York, 11563, United States
Telephone: (516) 512-7877

You’ve done all the research, toured what feels like countless properties, made offers and submitted applications, and you are finally in the home of your dreams. The rental market is competitive, so it is definitely a relief when you finally find what you are looking for.

However, don’t settle in too quickly without making sure your apartment is safe and functional for you and your family. Hazards like pests, mold, and lead-based paint may be lurking just out of sight.

Here’s what you need to know when it comes to understanding where, why, and how lead-based paint could be on your new apartment walls.

Where Is Lead-Based Paint Found?

Prior to 1978, lead-based paint was used extensively to cover walls and other building materials with vibrant, eye-catching colors. It was originally used due to its durability and boasted a quick drying time, so it was a great solution for quick painting jobs.

However, this extensive use extended beyond simple wall applications. In addition to your walls, lead paint can be found on:

Windowsills
Doors and door frames
Stair treads
Railings and banisters
Porches and porch swings
Closets and baseboards

The good news is that lead-based paint doesn’t necessarily pose a serious health risk if it is not deteriorating and is in good condition. However, the older your place is, the greater the chance that your paint is starting to chip or peel away.

Is Lead-Based Paint Still Found in Rental Apartments?

Lead paint was banned from use in 1978, but that doesn’t mean that it immediately disappeared from homes and rental properties. It simply became illegal to buy and use on your walls and other spaces in your home.

If your rental apartment is older, your walls might actually have lead-based paint on them layers beneath new coats of paint that were applied over the years. While the extra layers of paint are holding back the lead dust for the moment, any sort of chipping or deterioration on your walls could expose this dust and lead to a serious problem.

It is important to note that landlords are required to disclose their knowledge of any lead-based paint in your apartment, so they must do their due-diligence before renting out a supposed “lead-free” unit. In fact, they are even legally obligated to test for lead by 2025, thanks to Local Law 31.

However, that doesn’t mean that you don’t have lead paint just because your landlord is not aware of any or hasn’t done the test yet. It could simply mean that they haven’t owned the property long enough to know with complete certainty.

Signs of Lead-Based Paint

While the ban on lead-based paint was passed in 1978, it only focused on the sale and manufacture of the dangerous paint. There could still very well be lead-based paint on your walls if your building was built after the ban as cans were still in circulation for a while.

Unfortunately, it is not always easy to determine if you have lead-based paint if your walls are in good condition. It may simply look like regular paint until it starts to wear down.

As lead-based paint degrades, it often looks scaly and peels off in chips or small squares.

It can also leave a chalky residue when it starts to rub off. In any case, having a professional testing done in your apartment will help determine whether or not the paint on your rental walls is safe.

Testing for Lead-Based Paint

If your landlord doesn’t have the complete history of your apartment and isn’t 100% sure there is no lead paint, it is recommended to have your walls tested just to be safe.

A small paint chip can be sent away for testing, or you can call up a local lead testing team to perform an XRF test on your walls. An XRF (X-ray Fluorescence) test uses X-ray beams to reveal lead atoms in the paint on your walls. It is non-invasive and offers results almost immediately.

They are also really reliable! If your XRF test comes back positive for lead, you will be able to take the results of that test to your landlord to remedy the solution quickly.

What to Do if Lead Is Discovered in Your Rental

If lead is present in your rental, it is important that you bring your findings to your landlord immediately.

Depending on where you live, the mere presence of lead may not be enough to warrant action from your landlord. For example, in some cities, landlords technically do not have to remove lead-based paint if it is in good condition or is currently not a threat in any way.

Action is only necessary if the lead paint becomes hazardous or is in a high traffic area. For example, if your paint is chipping or crumbling away or is in a space that is used frequently, your landlord would need to make the necessary repairs.

Cleaning Up a Lead Paint Hazard

Lead paint hazards can be handled in a few different ways, but they should all be done by a team of professionals to ensure your safety:

Removal: This includes power sanding, heat guns, or chemical stripping.
Replacement: Similar to removal but it involves the replacement of a structure like drywall, a window or a doo.
Containment: A rigid barrier is installed to seal off the lead paint, like sheetrock or paneling.
Encapsulation: A chemical or adhesive is applied over the top of the paint to eliminate any future chipping or dust concerns.

Worried you might have a lead problem in your new apartment? Take action quickly to protect the health and safety of your family. The longer you are in a hazardous apartment, the more dangerous it will be to everyone under your roof.

Overcoming Lead Paint Hazards With Exit Mold

Let the talented team at Exit Mold perform your XRF testing! We can even handle your lead remediation if lead-based paint is discovered. Contact us today at (516) 512-7877 to schedule a quick XRF testing.

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