Removing paint on exterior of brick walls

[Sarah Kuppert]

I am considering purchasing a townhouse to rent out out in Baltimore, Maryland that has painted brick on the outside. Since lead is a problem in older townhouses in Baltimore, I would either have to paint over the 2 story house to cover until potential lead paint(which is at the end of the street, so it has more outdoor surface than other townhouses). I would rather just remove all the paint so I don’t have to deal with maintenance. I am not sure if it’ll get rid of the lead completely and if it’s feasible and affordable. Is it maybe even possible to choose a different siding over the brick, to encase it more permanently?