Lead inspection when purchasing a new home

[Brandon Y.]

I m purchasing a home in Massachusetts and my offer just got accepted for my first multi-family.

The home was built prior to 1978 and it is a two-family side-by-side. Currently, there are tenants at will and both unit tenant would continue to stay in the house after the closing.

Both tenants have been staying in the house for more than 2 years. Unit B tenants have a toddler.

The seller has no knowledge of the lead and the building was never inspected. My concern is that I will be acquiring a tenant with a baby and living in a home that is built prior to 1978, which has a possibility of lead paint present. I have 10 days to get it inspected.

Knowing that there is a very high probablity that there are lead paint;

1. should I still get it inspected?

2. Deleading is a high cost procedure. How can I avoid the situation that need to delead the home? Or is there a way?

3. How do I handle the situation of acquiring a tenant with a toddler living in a home built prior to 1978?

[Scott Trench]

I was about to respond to this post the other day and I'm glad I held back and "followed" this thread instead. 

My instinct as a CO investor was like some of these other folks - to simply follow the law and make sure that any tenants get the proper lead-based paint disclosures as renters of the property, and not worry about it too much. I just assume that every property built before 1978 has lead based paint at this point. 

However, it looks like MA investors have a clear reason to believe that MA law takes this to another level and there may be an effort to de-lead the property required from you. This seems excessive as an out of state observer - it feels like it will drive up the cost of housing in the state. But, it seems clear that the State requires it.  I'd do some research and get clear, after discussing with local mentors and your real estate agent, who should be knowledgeable on this, what is required for you to be in the right side of the law, and to reduce risk. It sounds like an inspection is a good first step and you are checking this box.