[RP TownTalk] Rental properties

[Chris Currie]

The major change here, as Audrey indicates, is that now houses built as
recently as 1977 fall under the lead inspection requirement; previously,
the cut-off was in the 1950s.

Be aware that, depending on your municipality, the inspection requirement
may be more frequent than once every change in tenant.  The City of
Hyattsville, for example, requires owners to pass a lead inspection in
conjunction with its annual rental inspection.  That means that in
Hyattsville, you have at least one lead inspection per year and you might
have two, if a change in tenancy occurs between your annual permit
inspection.  I don't know what the policy is in Riverdale Park.

The good news for landlords is that the cost of these inspections has been
going down as more people have gotten trained and certified to do them.
Several years ago, shortly after the original law was passed, it could cost
$500-$800 to do a typical house.  That number seems to have dropped to a
few hundred dollars now.

Chris


Message: 1
Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 12:48:44 -0400
From: Audrey Bragg <abragg7393 at aol.com>
To: towntalk at riverdale-park.org
Subject: [RP TownTalk] Rental properties
Message-ID: <8D1A309E02126F5-287C-F5B9 at webmail-m289.sysops.aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


Hi all,
Just a heads up to those who own rental property in town.  The state
recently passed a new law regarding lead inspections for rental properties:
Effective 1/1/2015  All residential rental properties constructed prior to
1978 must comply with Maryland's Lead Risk Reduction Housing Act.  The law
requires rental property owners to:
1. Register all their rental dwelling units every year with the Maryland
Dept. of the Environment (MDE).  The cost of registration is $30.
2,  Have lead paint inspections prior to changes in tenancy, and
3.  Distribute specific lead risk educational materials

You can register your property through Jan. 1, 2015 at
www.mde.maryland.gov/LeadRegistration
Questions can be directed to: mde.leadreg at maryland.gov

Without certification and by not following approved practices owner's can
face fines and potential lawsuits.

Respectfully submitted,




Audrey Bragg, Broker
Gerrety & Bragg Real Estate, Inc.
301-277-1111 office
301-351-4222 cell
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