If your contractor is not talking to you about the New Lead Laws that go into effect on April 22, 2010 that should be a warning…..The health and safety of you and your family is paramount to Morrison's. We have posted links below to the information you need to protect your family.
EPA Requirements
Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children.
To protect against this risk, on April 22, 2008, EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning in April 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.
Until that time, EPA recommends that anyone performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools follow lead-safe work practices.
- All contractors should follow these three simple procedures:
- Contain the work area.
- Minimize dust.
- Clean up thoroughly.
* Read EPA's Regulations on Residential Property Renovation at 40 CFR 745.80, Subpart E. * Read about lead-hazard information for renovation, repair and painting activities in the EPA lead hazard information pamphlet Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (PDF) (20 pp, 3.3MB) | en español (PDF) (20 pp, 3.2MB)
* Read about lead-safe work practices for contractors in the EPA pamphlet Contractors: Lead Safety During Renovation (PDF) color, in English (2 pp, 826K) | color, en español (PDF) (2 pp, 334K) | HTML version | Other formats
* Read about how to comply with EPA's rule in the EPA Small Entity Compliance Guide to Renovate Right (PDF) (34 pp, 2.5MB) | en español (PDF) (34 pp, 1.3MB).
* Find additional EPA publications and brochures on lead-safe renovation, repair and painting and on lead poisoning prevention.
____________________________________________________________________
Financial Help for Home Owners
The Department of Housing and Community Development administers the Massachusetts Lead Abatement Program(MLAP) of which the Self Help Lead Abatement Program is a vital member. Funds for this program are secured through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Lead Hazard Control Program.
Self Help Lead Abatement Program
The Self Help Lead Abatement Program has been in existence since 1994 and has provided over a million dollars in grants and low interest or deferred loans to property owners in southeastern Massachusetts to abate lead hazards in homes where children under the age of six years reside.
Through our Lead Abatement program we can help qualifying homeowners to correct common maintenance-related lead violations and enhance the safety, appearance, maintenance and value of the property.
Eligible measures include:
Scraping and repainting exterior surfaces
Covering exterior surfaces with aluminum or vinyl
Replacing exterior porches and stairs
Covering walls and ceilings with paneling or plasterboard
Our program can provide funding for lead paint testing and abatement of lead hazards in investment properties occupied by low income families. It can also provide financial assistance to low to moderate income families in single family housing who meet the following income guidelines*:
|
Income Limits
|
|||||
|
1-2 Persons |
3 or More |
Type of Construction | Purchase Price | Type of unit | Purchase Price |
| $73,700 | $84,700 | Single Family New | $376,700 | Single Family Existing | $213,100 |
| 2 Family Existing | $239,900 | ||||
| 3 Family Existing | $290,400 | ||||
| 4 Family Existing | $337,700 | ||||
*These income and acquisition cost limits are for the Greater Brockton area. If you do not live in the greater Brockton area, contact the program for income limits in your community.
Our Lead Program can provide up to $2,500 towards the cost of lead abatement and through MHFA, a range of up to $20,000 additional funding for a single family unit to $35,000 for a 4 family unit at 0% to 5% loans, financing and technical support through the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency Get the Lead Out Program.
MHFA cooperates with DHCD, Mass. Department of Public Health and Local Rehabilitation Agencies (LRA) (Self Help is a LRA) to offer low interest loans to homeowners and investors. Applications are only available through LRA's.
Loan Terms:
- Owner occupant loans require no monthly payments.
- Investor loans require a monthly payment until the loan is fully amortized.
- Loans must be paid off upon sale, transfer or refinance of the property, and payments of loans may not be assumed by third parties.
Income
- Owner-Occupants:Income from borrower(s) who reside in the property cannot exceed MassHousing income limits
- At least one owner must live in the property
- Investor-Owners: Tenants must certify that they do not exceed the MassHousing income limits or the investor must certify that any units vacant will be rented to tenants whose household income does not exceed income limits.
Property Eligibility Guidelines
- 1 to 4 family residential property that contains lead
- No condos
- No commercial space/mixed use
- No temporary shelter or rooming houses
- Financing is limited to eight (8) units per investor
- No realty trusts, life estates or similar entities
Get the Lead Out Loan Program
Through a partnership with Departments of Public Health and Housing and Community Development, MassHousing offers an affordable way to remove hazardous lead paint from your home.
How to Apply
Get the Lead Out loans are administered by local rehabilitation agencies. For more information, or to apply, contact a participating agency.
Who is Eligible?
Owner Occupants
0% Deferred Interest Rate
- Income-eligible families who are under court order to delead or who have a child who is under case-management with the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP)
- Interest Rate is 0% Deferred
- Eligible borrowers may not have to repay the loan until they sell or refinance their home
3% Amortizing Interest Rate
Owner occupants who wish to delead their homes for preventative reasons may qualify for an amortizing loan with a 3% interest rate. View income limits
5% Amortizing Interest Rate
Owner occupants who wish to delead their homes for preventative reasons may qualify for an amortizing loan with a 5% interest rate. View income limits
Nonprofit Organizations
- Available to nonprofit organizations who rent to income-eligible tenants
- All loans are 0%, fully amortizing
- Loan terms are from 5 to 15 years, based on the loan amount and borrower qualifications
Investor-Owners
- Available to investor-owners who rent to income-eligible tenants
- All loans are 5%, fully amortizing
- Loan terms are from 5 to 15 years, based on the loan amount and borrower qualifications
Income Limits and Other Restrictions
Income Limits
Borrowers must meet income guidelines to participate in the Get the Lead Out Program. View income limits.
Other Restrictions
Maximum loan amounts are
- $30,000 for a single-family home
- $35,000 for a 2-family home
- $40,000 for a 3-family home
- $45,000 for a 4-family home
Lead Paint Removal Assistance
What is lead paint removal assistance?
Lead paint removal assistance is money given as a grant, loan, or tax credit to homeowners who cover or remove lead paint hazards from their property. The goal of lead paint removal programs is to reduce the risk of lead poisoning in children. Many Massachusetts cities and towns offer lead paint removal programs, especially communities with older housing. Some communities give grants to cover part of the cost, and loans to cover the rest.
-
Lead Removal Grants
Lead removal grants pay for lead paint testing, lead paint removal or covering, tenant relocation, and other costs in housing that is occupied by low and moderate income families. Lead removal grants are for income-eligible owner-occupants, and for property owners who rent to income-eligible tenants.
Grants may be used for single-family and multi-family homes (up to 4 units). Priority is usually given to families with young children.
Lead removal grants are offered by cities and towns and non-profit housing agencies throughout Massachusetts. Funding either comes directly from HUD or from the Massachusetts Lead Abatement Program administered by the DHCD.
-
Get the Lead Out Program
Get the Lead Out is a program that gives low-cost loans to homeowners to help pay the costs of deleading their property. To qualify for a 0% deferred loan, you must be an owner occupant under court order to delead or with a child in case management with the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. For 3% and 5% amortizing loans for preventative deleading, you (or your tenants) must meet income limits.
Get the Lead Out loans are offered by approved rehabilitation agencies throughout Massachusetts. Homeowners must have their property inspected by a state-licensed lead paint inspector, and use state-licensed deleading contractors for all high-risk work.
-
Lead Paint Removal Tax Credit
The Lead Paint Removal Credit is a state income tax credit for Massachusetts residential property owners who delead their property. For eligibility, benefits, and other information, see Lead Paint Removal Credit.
Am I eligible?
- For community lead paint removal grants, you must be:
- a homeowner who:
- owns and lives in a home with lead paint
- meets the income guidelines
- and has a child living in the home (priority is given to households with children under 6)
- or a property owner who:
- owns rental units with lead paint
- rents to tenants who meet the income limits
- rents to tenants with a child in the household (priority is given to households with children under 6)
- meets other local requirements
- a homeowner who:
- For Get the Lead Out loans, you must meet these requirements:
- For 0% deferred loans:
- you must be an owner occupant under court order to delead, or with a child in case management with the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
- you must meet program income limits
- For 3% and 5% amortizing loans:
- if you are an owner-occupant, you must meet program income limits
- if you rent your property, your tenants must meet program income limits
- loans can be for preventative deleading
- For 0% deferred loans:
- For the Lead Tax Removal Credit, see Lead Paint Removal Credit – Am I eligible? for eligibility requirements.
What are the income limits?
- For Lead Removal Grants, property owners must meet these income limits:
- If you live in the property, you must have household income that is no more than 80% of the area median income
- If you rent the property, your tenants must have household income that is no more than 80% of the area median incomeTo find the income limits in your community, see the HUD 2009 Median Family Incomes. "Low Income" on the income chart equals 80% of the median.
- For Get the Lead Out loans:
You must meet the income limits set by MassHousing. Income limits vary depending on the type of loan, the household size, and the city/town where the property is located. See