Lead based paint, the most common source of lead exposure to children in Cleveland, was banned in 1978. However, over 90% of rental units in the City of Cleveland were built before 1978. So, it’s very likely that your rental unit has lead in it.
Lead safe is a proactive approach. It means making sure homes don’t pose a lead risk before a child could be poisoned. A home is lead safe when lead risks – known as lead hazards - have been controlled so that the concentration of leaded dust remains below the threshold set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This means a lead safe home is no longer hazardous but may still contain lead.
In order to combat lead poisoning, the City of Cleveland has required residential rental units built before 1978 to get a Lead Safe Certification. To obtain a Lead Safe Certification, rental property owners must pass a Lead Risk Assessment conducted by a State Licensed Risk Assessor .
