Lead paint and rewiring (rental built before 1978)

[Bienes Raices]

I've been to see an REO that's been sitting on the market (built in 1970). It's in reasonably decent shape but it does have aluminum wiring, which I would need to have replaced for insurance (and safety) reasons if I bought it. I think I could get the house for a low price if I made an offer.

The EPA's new law statest that if more than six square feet of drywall, etc. in the interior of the house is disrupted, a contractor with the new EPA lead safe certification needs to do the work.

I've looked at the EPA's list of contractors and none of the electricians I've worked with in the past have this cert. The one place I've been able to find (locally) so far that does have the cert also has horrible reviews on Google.

Would you pass on making an offer on this house, or take a chance and have one of the non-certified electricians do the rewiring? I don't know whether this could come back on me in the future.

I know that one option is testing for lead paint, but I've seen some here recommend against doing that, because then you'll be forced to disclose that it contains lead paint when you sell the house eventually.

Thanks.

[Steve Babiak]

You can buy the test kits, and do the test before you make your offer - while you visit the house. If it has lead paint on the walls, you can pass; the bank will not know, and they will not have to disclose (as is normally the case for the bank). If no lead paint, then you make your offer. Be sure to use the proper test kit, one that is EPA recognized as suitable for plaster and drywall. Not all test kits meet that requirement.

Now, once you own the house, you will have to disclose the results of all lead paint tests performed; to me, there is no risk in saying "no lead paint found" for any areas tested - which is what you will be saying when you have confirmed before purchase that there is no lead paint wherever you test.