Leveraging the Federal Lead Hazard Disclosure Law to Improve Housing Conditions

You must be a Clearinghouse Review subscriber to view this article. Log in or subscribe.

The Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act requires sellers and landlords to notify prospective buyers and tenants of known lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards but does not require sellers and landlords to correct hazards or even assess their properties for lead. Despite these limitations, advocates are increasingly optimistic about the potential of this federal lead hazard disclosure law to spur corrective action in high risk rental housing. Through its Disclosure Leveraging Project, the Alliance for Healthy Homes has developed and successfully implemented strategies for leveraging the federal disclosure law to motivate landlords of high-risk rental housing to control lead hazards and improve housing conditions.

By Maria Rapuano and Anne M. Phelps From May - June 2005