A lead paint inspection is a service performed on a rental dwelling built before 1978 to identify lead paint hazards such as cracked, chipped and peeling paint.
A lead paint inspection is required to be performed at every tenant turnover. Meaning that every time a new tenant moves out and before a new tenant moves in, a lead paint inspection must be performed. If you have a lead free property, the renewal is every two years and not at turnover.
This lead paint inspection is performed prior to a tenant moving in a property built before 1978 or at the change of occupancy; before moving a new tenant into the property.
This lead paint inspection is performed when:
- A child under six or a pregnant woman who lives in the property has and elevated blood level of 10 micrograms or more.
- A notice of Defect from any source made to the Maryland Department of Environment that the property contains a defect such as cracked, chipped and peeling paint.
XRF lead paint inspection is a surface-by-surface investigation to determine whether lead-based paint is present in rental dwelling built before 1978. The inspector holds the XRF analyzer directly on each painted surface in order to take measurements, which are then classified based on EPA / HUD standards.
This lead paint inspection is performed when:
- Request dust wipe samples if you want to know how much lead dust is present at your property that was built before 1978. Only dust wipes submitted to the lab can tell you lead level.
- Request an XRF inspection if you want to know if there is lead present at your property. An XRF cannot tell you the lead level at your property. An XRF is often requested after renovations or demolition are performed by a contractor to remove lead components.
Some local municipalities require a rental property inspection in addition to the lead paint inspection. Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Bowie are known jurisdictions that require a rental property inspections. Check with your local housing office for more information.
The 30 Minute Consult is a quick evaluation of the property that will help the property owner prepare for a full inspection. Both the exterior and interior is included but this is not a full inspection. The property owner will be provided with repair information and
tips. This service is mostly requested by new property owners who do not know what to expect.
Standard lab results are available 3 days after the lab submission. Ex. If the sample are taken on a Monday, Tuesday will count as the first day. Your results will be back on Friday. You can also request to have the come back sooner.
A lead paint inspection can take up to 60 minutes depending on the square footage of the property. Both the exterior and interior of the property will be inspected during the visual inspection. If dust wipes samples are taken add an addition 30 minutes. All areas are included but not limited to:
- exterior doors, exterior windows, exterior walls, decks, sheds, and garages.
- Interior door, interior windows, interior walls, baseboards and cabinets.
You can request to have dust wipe samples performed to receive lab results that will tell you how much lead your property has. You can request also request to have XRF testing. XRF testing will let you know if lead is present.
If your property has the original (wood) windows there will be two wipes taken from each room:
- One dust wipe will be taken from the window well.
- One dust wipe will be taken from the floor or the window sill.
If your property has replacement windows then one dust wipe will be taken in each room:
- One dust wipe will be taken from the floor or the window sill.
It is recommended that you use a detergent wash and a HEPA vacuum. Some property owners hire a cleaning company or perform the cleaning themselves.
