It may take a little more money and management but you would have great protection in the event of being sued.

2) States that the property comes with title insurance and I emailed town treasurer but publicly it looks like taxes were paid.

But this is not what I was asking about.I just need to know what we can do to be able to go through with this deal withoit testing/fixing now, before sale and still be be protected legally - short of buying the house, testing, finding there is some lead somewhere beneath the many layers of paint this house must have collected since the 20's (it will be for sure), kicking the renter out to fix the problem by paying a lead cert contractor to strip off all the paint (large expense).We cannot do this now - or maybe not even later.The seller (current owner of this house) bought in 2014 without testing and simply disclosed "I don't know". 

If someone's getting shot at I don't think I'd tell him that he'd have to leave my property, but would try to protect him.

I'm looking at a property that has R2 zoning it is listed  as a single-family with an accessory unit in the public records.

How do you become, as a starting-out developer, a public sector housing developer?

Selller has given "An EPA-approved pamphlet titled “Protect your family from lead in your home,”which identifies lead-based paint hazards.".

@Ozzy Sirimsi  @Tim Youse @Joseph Abad Appreciate the tip about # of tenants in Towson, looking at the zoning laws : "After the effective date of Bill No. 124-93, a new boarding- or rooming house is not permitted next to an existing boarding- or rooming house unless permitted after a public hearing pursuant to Section 408.B."

But what do you do if you have tenants that just ignore the rules meant to protect your property.

Then once the property has been purchased you can have a deed of trust placed on the property which will tie your funds to the property for additional protection.