Lead Worry From Tenants

[Matthew Slaughter]

Hi, i'm working to get inherited tenants to sign a new lease on a property we closed on in October.  Leases were sent over but they had one issue which deals with paint chipping in the bathroom and a lead scare from paint used prior to 1978.  The property passed lead inspection but i am worried the paint chipping, the base layer of it, may have been applied before 1978 and painted over several times.  Duplex was built in 1914.  Any suggestions on how to handle this? I'm thinking scrape and repaint.  Any concerns or easy repair ideas? Thanks everyone!!

[Tim Johnson]

The lead in old paint is only dangerous if ingested or breathed. Paint chips would have to be literally eaten (for example by babies or small children chewing on the wood), or breathed in (if cutting or grinding creates a kind of dust). In most cases, a new coat of paint - or at the very least, repainting areas that are presently chipping, is sufficient. Make sure your tenants receive the pamphlet about lead paint.