The most common cause of childhood lead poisoning in Maine is dust from lead paint. More than half of Maine homes may have lead paint. Even housing with lead-based paint can be safe for families if maintained in a lead-safe way. Children less than six years old are most likely to be poisoned by lead. Lead can cause learning disabilities and behavioral problems that last a lifetime.

Tenants: Search for Lead-Safe Housing

Beginning October 2012, tenants can use MaineHousingSearch.org to easily search for rental housing where landlords take real steps to prevent lead hazards.

Landlords: List Lead-Safe Housing

Starting now, landlords and property managers can show prospective tenants their commitment to providing safe and healthy housing by listing the lead-safe status of your rental properties on MaineHousingSearch.org.

To list the lead-safe status of a rental unit the lease agreement must require tenants to report deteriorating paint to the landlord. Click here for sample language for a lease agreement 

Screening at unit turnover and lead-safe maintenance practices can reduce lead hazards in rental properties. Click here for guidelines for screening at unit turnover .

Lead inspections in Maine must be performed by a licensed lead professional. A lead inspector or risk assessor provides a report that identifies lead based paint and lead-based paint hazards. Learn more about lead inspections and find a Maine lead professional .

After you submit your lead-safe status for your rental unit, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection will review the information and approve the status or ask for additional information. If you have questions about how your property qualifies for a lead-safe status, call Beth at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, (207) 592-6157.

A landlord that has been trained in lead-safe work practices  has taken the Essential Maintenance course, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Lead Renovation, Repair and painting course or the Lead Safe Renovator course.

More Information

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection has a web page with resources for landlords .

Families can learn more about lead hazards from the Maine Childhood Poisoning Prevention Program .

DEFINITIONS:

• Landlord or maintenance staff is trained in lead-safe work practices.
• The lease agreement requires tenants to report deteriorating paint to landlord.
• Units are screened for lead paint hazards at unit turnover and are maintained in a lead-safe way.

• Meets all of the lead maintained critera.
• Unit has been inspected by a lead professional, and the report is available and identifies the location of lead-based paint in the property.

• A lead inspection report from a lead professional is available and identifies no lead-based paint, or the property was built after 1977.