The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently acknowledged the difficulties in getting contractors/renovators up-to-speed on its new rule (under the Residential Lead-based Hazard Reduction Act of 1992) requiring the agency to develop regulations to address renovation, repair and painting (RRP) activities in single- and multi-family housing built before 1978. 

The EPA decided in June that it will not take enforcement actions against any renovator who has not been trained yet until October 1, 2010.

According to a previously published  fact sheet from the National Association of REALTORS®: “These rules require contractors and renovators to get trained and certified in EPA’s new lead-based paint work practices.  The rules apply only to licensed contractors; do-it-yourselfers will still be able to do RRP work on their own without being trained or certified and without getting fined.”

Read NAR’s key points for REALTORS® related to the new rule, which took effect April 22, 2010. Compliance responsibilities for REALTORS® under this new rule are minimal. However, REALTORS® with some property management activity and property managers may face some additional compliance activities.