If a property has been certified as “lead-free,” it means that neither the interior nor the exterior of the building contains lead-based paint. This certification assures that no additional inspections are needed.

On the other hand, a “limited lead-free” certification means that the interior of the property is free of lead-based paint, but the exterior or common areas may still contain it. For this reason, the property must be inspected every two years to ensure that the lead-free status remains intact.

To pass the inspection, you must successfully complete two stages.

The first requires that there is no chipping, peeling or flaking paint present in the interior or exterior basement of the property.

The second involves taking dust swipes from the property, which can fail for a few reasons. For instance, if there are original wooden windows, we must swipe the window well in each room with a wood window.

Additionally, unfinished basement floors are difficult to clean, especially if they are made of concrete. Therefore, we recommend painting them after removing as much dust as possible.

Finally, if you’ve just completed a renovation or rehabilitation project, there may be lead dust present throughout the property, so it’s important to clean it thoroughly before taking the dust swipe test.