Finding a Lead Safe Home

Before you sign a rental agreement or give money…

Do a visual inspection for chipping, peeling, deteriorated paint surfaces or bare soil. All of these may be signs of lead hazards.

Ask for a written disclosure of known lead hazards. It’s the law. Federal, State and local laws require owners of properties built before 1978 to disclose IN WRITING any known lead hazards. In Cleveland, a nonprofit organization can file a complaint against a landlord who fails to disclose known lead hazards. Ask CLASH for more information

Does the property have a Lead Safe Certificate? In Cleveland, call the Department of Building and Housing at 216.664.2274 or email to LeadCertCLE@clevelandohio.gov to find out if there's a Lead Safe Certificate for your property. Ask how you can get a copy.

• Later this year, the City of Cleveland hopes to have this information online.

• Later this year the City of Cleveland Heights will be issuing Lead Safe Certificates.  

Is there a Lead Hazard Control Order on your property?  Ask the City of Cleveland Department of Health at 216-664-2929. 

If there is an outstanding Lead Hazard Control Order (LHCO) on the property. State law requires local government to put a placard the property.  Unfortunately property owners sometimes tear down the placards and re-rent the unit. Check before you get stuck. 

After you move in…

Keep your home dust free. The EPA manual Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home has suggestions for keeping your home safe. Owners of properties built before 1978 are required to give tenants a copy of this brochure. You can also find copies online or at CLASH events.

Monitor the conditions in your home: Watch for chipping, peeling and deteriorated paint inside and outdoors. Doors, windows, and porches are places to check. Watch for bare soil around the property. Water leaks and harsh weather conditions can expose lead hazards. 

Monitor conditions around your home. Vacant abandoned houses, vacant lots with junk cars, uncontrolled demolitions, and smoke or fluids from nearby industries can all be lead hazards. When reporting on neighborhood hazards a few simple principles can help get action

• Organize with your neighbors to file complaints. Social media posts can help rally support against local environmental hazards

• Reach out to your elected officials as well as city agencies

• Don't forget the power of the media to get action when citizen voices are not enough. 

Report these conditions to your landlord in writing and keep a copy of your report. Ohio Landlord Tenant Law permits a tenant to give the landlord a written notice of conditions which the tenant believes are a violation of the housing code. If landlord fails to correct the conditions in 30 days and if the tenant is current in rent, the tenant may put the next rent payment in escrow with the Clerk of Courts. For more information check with a Housing Court Specialist at Cleveland Municipal Court. (216) 664-4295 or visit The Clinic operates on the first floor of the Justice Center from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. A Spanish speaking specialist is available Monday (9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) and Friday (12:30 to 3:30 p.m.)

• In Cleveland landlord should give seven day notice before making repairs to correct a lead hazard CITE. Maintenance and contract workers must be RRP certified before performing maintenance work in pre-1978 properties. need a link to codified ordinance

If landlord fails to address these your written notice, file a complaint with your city’s department of building and housing and ask for an inspection. In Cleveland, there seems to be two options for filing a complaint:

Code Enforcement 216.420.8416 tvanover@clevelandohio.gov or 

Complaints 216.664.3789 311@clevelandohio.gov

Be sure that your children are tested for lead exposure. In Ohio, children must be tested at the first and second year Well Baby check ups. But you can ask your doctor anytime if you suspect a lead hazard.

• Too often health care providers skip the lead test. TELL YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER you want a lead test!