"Many houses and apartments built before 1978 have paint that contains lead (called lead-based paint). Lead from paint, chips, and dust can pose serious health hazards if not taken care of properly.

Federal law requires that individuals receive certain information before renting or buying a pre-1978 housing:

Residential Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Program
LANDLORDS have to disclose known information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before leases take effect. Leases must include a disclosure form about lead-based paint.
SELLERS have to disclose known information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before selling a house. Sales contracts must include a disclosure form about lead-based paint. Buyers have up to 10 days to check for lead hazards.
More information on the disclosure program."- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency


What if my landlord never disclosed any information about lead-based paint for a house that is over a hundred years old? Also, my lease does not have a clause about lead-based paints. Is that anything? Or no big deal. Just wondering.

Hello Pinky:

Is it anything? Depends on what do you want to do. Do you want to break the lease?? Get a discount? Get the landlord in trouble??

Tell me and I'll tell you whether your lead paint problem is a big deal.

excon

Let's say I want to get him in trouble. I no longer live at the property, but would still like to do something legal and through the proper channels.

I don't know what the punishment is for landlords that don't do that but unless you are having problems due do lead based paint exposure. I would let the guy know that he needs to include that in future leases and leave it at that. Can you honestly say that you didn't know that a 100 year old house could contain lead. No reason to be vindictive without cause.