Lead Certification State Website Inaccurate?

[Courtney Kelly]

We are under contract for our first multi-family investment property. We asked that the first floor be delivered vacant, as it is not lead compliant and there is a family with children under age 6 living there. We are prepared to de-lead that unit. We were told and referenced the mass.gov state registry that the second floor unit is lead safe. However, we just learned that the inspector that certified it years lost his license, has no record of it, and neither does the local department of health. Somehow the certification made it's way to the mass.gov website, but that is now inaccurate and it does not hold a valid certificate. The seller does not have the physical piece of paper either, which is apparently required to rent to section 8. I feel naïve, but we have already signed the P&S and are being told that we would have to have it re-inspected for lead on our own. Has anyone dealt with this? We are feeling slightly mislead by our relator. We are being told that the second floor tenant does not have any children, however she does appear to be of child-bearing age. Any insight would be helpful. Thank you!