Information To Know

Before Booking An

Inspection

Owner Requirements:

Owners of rental properties built before 1978 require a Certificate of Conformance

A Certificate of Conformance is valid for 2 years and then must be renewed. Rhode Island is considered an encapsulation state, and because lead only needs to be covered and not removed the potential harm of lead is still present, and inspectors will need to conduct a new full lead inspection to ensure no damage to any painted surfaces occurred that would expose or have disturbed the lead underneath; this inspection would also include new lead dust samples being taken.

Exemptions of the Lead

Hazard Mitigation Law

Include:

  • Rentals that have acquired a Full Lead Safe or current Conditional Lead Safe Certificate

  • Temporary/ Seasonal housing with tenant turnover no more than 100 days in the calendar year to the same tenant

  • Housing designated for residents age 62 or older ex. (Nursing Home)

  • Housing built after 1978

How to Best Prepare for a

Lead Inspection:

Steps to Have A Successful Lead Inspection

  • Make sure there is NO damaged paint such as chipping, flaking, peeling, cracking or scaling on the exterior or interior of the property. This includes the exterior of Garages or sheds built pre-1978. All paint must be intact. no surface which has loose, delaminating, flaking, peeling, chipping, chalking, or blistering paint; no paint that is otherwise becoming separated from the substrate; no paint which is abraded by friction or impact, shows evidence of teeth marks, or is damaged by water

  •    Make sure there are no binding friction surfaces, such as sticking doors

  • If the work needs to be done on the property and will result in disturbing less than six (6) square feet of lead-based paint per interior room or less than twenty (20) square feet on the exterior, and the work does not involve window replacement or demolition activities, then the work may be performed as lead hazard mitigation by someone who has attended a lead hazard awareness seminar provided that no prohibited work practices are used.

  •  If the work will result in disturbing six (6) square feet or more of lead-based paint per interior room or twenty (20) square feet or more on the exterior, then the work must be performed as lead hazard control by a Lead Renovation Firm licensed by RIDOH

  • All surfaces must be clean and free of lead dust, paint chips, or debris. You can use a regular household cleaner and TSP or Fiberlock Lead Safe. Samples inside unit are taken on windowsills, window wells and floors. Please pay attention to cleaning common areas like stairwells and hallways in multifamily homes, as they tend to fail lead dust samples more often. We also recommend treating areas with TSP, trisodium phosphate or Fiberlock Lead Safe. When using either solution, let it sit for about a minute on the surface before wiping away until dry. Please use multiple clean rags or mop heads to wipe away the solution on areas and change the solution often so as not to spread the lead around.

What to Expect

During the Inspection:

  • Our lead inspector will enter your property and conduct a visual inspection of the exterior of the home, including the exterior of any accessory structures like garages or sheds that were built prior to 1978, and look at all surfaces on the Exterior and Interior of the property to see if the paint is intact.

  • Chipping, Flaking, Scaling, Peeling, and damaged paint are considered hazards that would fail a lead inspection.

  • The Inspector will also make sure there is no Rubbing/ Binding friction on doors, as that is also considered a hazard if the door or any part of the doorway is painted.

  • The Inspector will need access to every room in the unit, every common area in the building, and outside. If they cannot access these areas, the inspection will not be able to be completed.

  • Inspectors need to be able to see ceilings, walls, doors, inside closets and cabinets, windows, and windowsills.

  • Inspectors will collect at least 3 dust wipes for a unit. For multi-family units, there should be at least 1 wipe per unit in each shared common area. Extra samples will be taken in a child’s bedroom if they are 6 and under.