What we verified in “Lead, mold and pests in the home you rent or buy”

Statements and where we checked them

The statements with rules, figures or dates, with the exact place in the source and the date we checked them.

1. According to EPA, in 1978 the federal government banned the sale of lead-based paint for homes, childcare facilities and preschools; about three-quarters of U.S. homes built before 1978 still contain some lead-based paint; children can live safely in these homes as long as paint and surfaces are in good condition and kept clean; and any renovation, repair or painting project in a pre-1978 home with lead-based paint can easily create dangerous lead dust.

   Sources 1 · Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program, 'Background': 'In 1978, the federal government banned the sale of lead-based paint for use in homes'; 'Approximately three-quarters of the homes in the United States built before 1978 still contain some lead-based paint'; 'Children can live safely in these homes as long as paint and surfaces are in good condition and surfaces are kept clean'; 'can easily create dangerous lead dust' · Checked October 31, 2026

2. According to the CDC (August 21, 2025), there are no safe levels of lead in the blood; lead can come from chipping or peeling paint in homes or buildings built before 1978; many children ingest lead dust by putting toys and dirt in their mouths; and parents can talk to their healthcare provider to find out whether a blood lead test is needed.

   Sources 2 · About Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention (Aug. 21, 2025): 'There are no safe levels of lead in the blood'; 'Chipping or peeling paint in homes or buildings built before 1978'; 'Many children ingest lead dust by putting objects such as toys and dirt in their mouths'; 'Parents can talk to their healthcare provider to find out if a blood lead test is needed' · Checked October 31, 2026

3. Under the federal disclosure rule (40 CFR §745.107), before you are obligated under a contract to buy or rent pre-1978 housing, the seller or landlord must give you the EPA-approved pamphlet 'Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home' (or an approved equivalent); disclose any known lead-based paint or lead hazards, with available information on where they are and their condition; and give you any records or reports it has, including for common areas; and if it gives you that information after your offer, it must do so before accepting the offer and let you review it and amend your offer. The rule does not require the seller or landlord to test or fix anything.

   Sources 3 · 40 CFR §745.107(a): 'before the purchaser or lessee is obligated under any contract'; 'Nothing in this section implies a positive obligation on the seller or lessor to conduct any evaluation or reduction activities'; (a)(1): 'Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home'; (a)(2): 'disclose ... the presence of any known lead-based paint'; (a)(4): 'any records or reports available'; 'common areas'; (b): 'prior to accepting the purchaser's or lessee's offer and allow ... an opportunity to review the information and possibly amend the offer' · Checked October 31, 2026

4. Under the federal rule (40 CFR §745.101), the disclosure requirements do not apply to, among others: foreclosure sales; leases of housing a certified inspector found free of lead-based paint; short-term leases of 100 days or less with no renewal possible; and lease renewals where the landlord already disclosed everything and has no new information.

   Sources 4 · 40 CFR §745.101(a): 'Sales of target housing at foreclosure'; (b): 'Leases of target housing that have been found to be lead-based paint free by an inspector certified'; (c): 'Short-term leases of 100 days or less, where no lease renewal or extension can occur'; (d): 'Renewals of existing leases in target housing in which the lessor has previously disclosed all information' · Checked October 31, 2026

5. Under the federal rule (40 CFR §745.110), before the buyer is obligated under the contract, the seller of pre-1978 housing must give the buyer 10 days (unless they agree in writing on a different period) to do a lead risk assessment or inspection; and the buyer may waive that opportunity in writing.

   Sources 5 · 40 CFR §745.110(a): 'the seller shall permit the purchaser a 10-day period (unless the parties mutually agree, in writing, upon a different period of time) to conduct a risk assessment or inspection'; (b): 'a purchaser may waive the opportunity ... by so indicating in writing' · Checked October 31, 2026

6. Under the federal rule (40 CFR §745.113), a contract to buy housing built before 1978 must include a Lead Warning Statement saying lead poisoning in young children may cause permanent neurological damage, including learning disabilities, reduced IQ, behavioral problems and impaired memory, that it poses a particular risk to pregnant women and that a risk assessment or inspection is recommended before purchase; and a lease must include a warning that before renting pre-1978 housing landlords must disclose known lead-based paint and tenants must receive a federal pamphlet.

   Sources 6 · 40 CFR §745.113(a)(1): 'built prior to 1978'; 'permanent neurological damage, including learning disabilities, reduced intelligence quotient, behavioral problems, and impaired memory'; 'a particular risk to pregnant women'; 'A risk assessment or inspection for possible lead-based paint hazards is recommended prior to purchase'; (b)(1): 'Before renting pre-1978 housing, lessors must disclose'; 'Lessees must also receive a federally approved pamphlet' · Checked October 31, 2026

7. According to EPA, the Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule requires that anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in homes, childcare facilities and preschools built before 1978 be certified and their employees trained in lead-safe work practices; the rule generally does not apply to homeowners working on their own homes, but it does if they rent all or part of the home, run a home childcare or buy, renovate and sell homes for profit; and EPA recommends hiring a lead-safe certified contractor.

   Sources 1 · Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program: 'requires that anyone paid to perform work that disturbs painted surfaces in homes, childcare facilities and preschools built before 1978 be certified'; 'In general, the RRP Rule does not apply to homeowners doing RRP projects in their own pre-1978 homes. However, it does apply if you rent all or part of your home, operate a childcare center in your home or if you buy, renovate and sell homes for profit'; 'EPA recommends that homeowners hire a lead-safe certified contractor' · Checked October 31, 2026

8. Under the RRP rule (40 CFR §745.84), no more than 60 days before starting a renovation in pre-1978 housing, the firm doing the work must give the pamphlet to the owner and, if the owner does not live there, also to an adult occupant.

   Sources 7 · 40 CFR §745.84(a): 'No more than 60 days before beginning renovation activities in any residential dwelling unit of target housing, the firm performing the renovation must: (1) Provide the owner of the unit with the pamphlet'; (a)(2): 'if the owner does not occupy the dwelling unit, provide an adult occupant of the unit with the pamphlet' · Checked October 31, 2026

9. Under HUD's rule for tenant-based rental assistance, such as Section 8 vouchers (24 CFR §35.1225), within 15 days after a public health department or other medical provider reports that a child under 6 living in the unit has an elevated blood lead level, the designated party must complete an environmental investigation of the unit; and within 30 days after the report, the owner must reduce the lead hazards found.

   Sources 8 · 24 CFR §35.1225 (Subpart M—Tenant-Based Rental Assistance), (a): 'Within 15 calendar days after being notified by a public health department or other medical health care provider that a child of less than 6 years of age ... has been identified as having an elevated blood lead level, the designated party shall complete an environmental investigation'; (c): 'Within 30 calendar days after receiving the report ... the owner shall complete the reduction of identified lead-based paint hazards' · Checked October 31, 2026

10. According to EPA, the key to mold control is moisture control; dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold; mold can cause allergic reactions, asthma attacks in allergic people and irritation of the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs; if there is mold you must clean it up and fix the water problem; if the area is less than about 10 square feet, in most cases you can handle it yourself, but with a lot of water damage or more mold, follow the guidance for larger buildings; do not paint or caulk over mold; and never mix chlorine bleach with cleaners that contain ammonia.

    Sources 9 · A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home: 'The key to mold control is moisture control'; 'dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours'; 'Molds can also cause asthma attacks'; 'irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs'; 'you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem'; 'less than about 10 square feet ... in most cases, you can handle the job yourself'; 'Do not paint or caulk moldy surfaces'; 'Never mix chlorine bleach solution with other cleaning solutions or detergents that contain ammonia' · Checked October 31, 2026

11. According to EPA, in most cases, if mold is visible, sampling is unnecessary; and because there are no federal limits for mold or spores, sampling cannot be used to check a building's compliance with federal mold standards.

    Sources 9 · A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home, 'Is sampling for mold needed?': 'In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary'; 'Since no EPA or other federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a building's compliance with federal mold standards' · Checked October 31, 2026

12. According to EPA, treating bed bugs is complex and can take weeks to months; an extension agent can identify the pest at no cost; if they are confirmed and you live in an apartment, tell your landlord, because nearby units should be inspected, and landlords may have a responsibility to participate in treatment; covers that seal mattresses and box springs trap bed bugs; a clothes dryer on high heat works; a freezer works only at 0 °F for three days; and pesticides must be EPA-registered with bed bugs on the label and used as labeled, with extreme care for foggers (bug bombs), because improper use can harm your health or cause a fire or explosion.

    Sources 10 · Do-it-yourself Bed Bug Control: 'Treating bed bugs is complex and can take weeks to months'; 'Extension agents can identify the pest at no cost to you'; 'notify your landlord if you live in an apartment. The units near yours should be inspected'; 'Landlords may have a responsibility to participate in treatment'; 'protective covers that seal mattresses and box springs'; 'You can use a clothes dryer on high heat'; 'the freezer is set to 0 oF'; 'for three days'; 'Look for EPA-registered pesticides that have bed bugs listed on the label'; 'Use foggers (bug bombs) only with extreme care'; 'Improper use can harm your health or cause a fire or explosion' · Checked October 31, 2026