Lead disclosure for pre-1978 rentals
If you rent out a home built before 1978, the federal disclosure rule asks you to share lead information with a tenant before the lease is signed. It is about telling the tenant what you know, not about proving the home is lead-free.
In practice that means three things in the file: the EPA pamphlet "Protect Your Family From Lead In Your Home," a disclosure of any known lead-based paint or hazards with the records you have, and the Lead Warning Statement in the lease or an attachment.
Many landlords add a simple routine: check the build year when they buy a property, keep any lead reports in the property file, and use the same disclosure packet for every new lease. Keep signed copies for three years from the start of the lease.
If you want to know where lead is in a unit, an inspection or risk assessment can help. We refer you to a contractor with an active California license for the repair side. Verify the license at cslb.ca.gov.
Quick list
- Check the build year.
- Give the EPA pamphlet.
- Disclose what you know and share records.
- Include the Lead Warning Statement.
- Keep signed copies for three years.