Lead in Cleveland is a major issue – and millions of dollars from both the city and private organizations have been raised to address it.
That’s because many of Cleveland’s homes were built before lead paint was outlawed for residential use in 1978. Lead can damage a child’s developing brain and lead to irreversible delays and behavioral issues.
The city passed a law in 2019 requiring landlords who own pre-1978 homes to get the properties certified as lead-safe, which involves examining and testing a home for lead. So far, about 25,600 rental units have the lead-safe certification – which by some estimates represent just a quarter of all rental units in Cleveland. Owner-occupied units don’t have the same lead-safe requirements.
That means many tenants and homeowners still live in homes that have not been tested for lead. By confirming lead hazards in a home, a tenant or homeowner can begin making a plan to address the dangerous toxin.
So what are the options if residents want to take matters into their own hands and get their homes checked for lead paint?
The answer is that it depends on many factors, including whether your child tested positive for lead poisoning and whether you rent or own. The following guide can help you figure out what options exist to get your home tested for lead. The following information is specific to residents who live within the City of Cleveland. Options can differ for residents who live in surrounding cities.
Should I test my home for lead?
Yes, most property owners in Cleveland should have their homes tested for lead because of the age of the city’s housing stock, wrote Wyonette Cheairs, who helps lead the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition, in an email to Signal Cleveland.
“If you live in a home built before 1978, it’s recommended that the property owner have the home tested for lead because lead hazards may be present, even if you do not see chipping or peeling paint,” Cheairs added.
To see whether your home was built before 1978, visit Cuyahoga County’s property records website and type in your address.
If the home was built prior to 1978, another option is to presume the home has lead-based paint, according to the Ohio Department of Health. If you make this presumption and own the home, take precautions when renovating and keep paint from becoming deteriorated.
How can I test my home for lead?
The city’s Department of Public Health recommends hiring a state-certified lead risk assessor to determine a home’s risk for poisoning. Ohio keeps a database of lead workers with contact information here.
A lead risk assessor will inspect the condition of the painted surfaces in the home and test deteriorated paint for lead, according to the Ohio Department of Health. The assessment also indicates the location and severity of lead hazards and suggests remedies for them.
But these tests are not cheap. The city estimates hiring a lead professional for an inspection starts at $350.
At-home lead test kits are cheaper. But they come with their own challenges – one being that the only kits that are recognized by the EPA require trained professionals to use them. Dr. David Margolius, Cleveland’s Public Health director, does not recommend using the at-home test kits. Neither does the Lead Safe Resource Center, Cheairs wrote. The Lead Safe Resource Center provides assistance to property owners and tenants working on lead.
But Spencer Wells, a co-founder of the volunteer group Cleveland Lead Advocates for Safe Housing, said his organization is often asked about at-home test kits. One way they might be used is by homeowners deciding whether to invest in a more expensive lead test from a state-certified worker, he said.
“You’re arguing with your spouse about, “Should we spend $500 and have somebody do the lead risk assessment?’” Wells said. “Well, maybe it makes sense if we think we have lead. And this is another way we can show that maybe it’ll be worthwhile.”
Do you have a child under 6? If so, have they been tested for lead poisoning?
Young children in Cleveland are supposed to be tested for lead by their pediatricians because of how common the toxin is in local housing. A blood test can measure how high or low children’s lead levels are.
Yes, and their lead level is above 10 micrograms per deciliter
If your child tests above 10 micrograms per deciliter in Cleveland, the city’s health department will be notified. In most cases, the department will visit the child’s home – whether it’s a rental or owner-occupied – and conduct a lead risk assessment of hazards.
Yes, and their lead level is between 3.5 to 9.9 micrograms per deciliter.
If your child tests between 3.5 and 10 micrograms per deciliter, Cleveland’s Public Health Department calls the family of the poisoned child and sends mailers about how to handle lead in the home. But it does not automatically conduct a full inspection of the home for lead, Margolius said. But if residents ask for a lead assessment, the department would schedule one, he added.
“But they’ll probably do more of just a visual exam, like here’s some potential sources,” Margolius said. “ So, depending on the situation, we would recommend they get the lead risk assessment from a licensed lead risk assessor.”
Yes, and their lead level is under 3.5 micrograms per deciliter.
For higher levels of lead poisoning, the city’s Public Health Department will do outreach or come inspect the housing unit for lead. But under 3.5 micrograms per deciliter of lead in a child’s blood, there is no official response that involves testing a home for lead.
Are you a homeowner or a tenant?
I’m a tenant.
If you are a tenant concerned about lead, first confirm whether or not your home was built before 1978. If it was, your landlord is supposed to test the home for lead and ensure the home is safe from it – as required by the city’s 2019 lead safe law.
To check whether your landlord has a certificate showing the home is lead safe, visit the city’s Lead Safe Certificate Explorer and search for your address.
If your landlord does not have a certificate, you can make a complaint to the city by calling 311. You can also report concerns through 311’s online portal.
But Margolius recommends tenants begin by having a conversation with their landlord about the city’s lead safe program. Landlords can get reimbursed for up to $1,000 through the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition for receiving their lead safe certificate.
“I always encourage people to have those conversations too, without the threat of enforcement,” Margolius said.
Here are some of the best ways tenants can discuss lead with their landlords, according to the Lead Safe Resource Center:
- Ask your property owners if they are aware of the Lead Safe Ordinance that all rental properties must be registered as lead-safe if the property was built before 1978.
- Ask your property owners if they could use any support in obtaining the Lead Safe Certification.
- Share any information regarding resources available for property owners.
- Refer your property owners to the Lead Safe Resource Center. Anyone can call at (833) 601-5323, or by email at LSRC@ehw.org.
Tenants can also get legal advice through Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Cheairs told Signal Cleveland. They also have the option to hire an inspector themselves to conduct a lead risk assessment. The property owner ultimately has to approve any work to fix lead hazards that are found.
I’m a homeowner.
If you are a homeowner – and do not have a child with high levels of lead – there are not many options to get your home tested for free. Margolius recommended homeowners hire lead risk assessors themselves if they have concerns about lead.
Another option homeowners have is to apply for a financial assistance grant from the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition to make their home lead safe, Cheairs wrote. Homeowners who receive a grant get a free lead risk assessment, she added.
The challenge is that the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition has a backlog of applicants for financial assistance grants. At a meeting in late July, the coalition estimated that it could dole out 237 grants in the next year of the program – while it already has 1,000 applications in the door.
Cheairs wrote in an email that the coalition is prioritizing applications from rental properties housing children and owner-occupied properties frequented by children under six.
If you are a tenant, do you live in CMHA Housing?
Housing programs administered by the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority have their own sets of rules with regard to lead poisoning. That includes public housing and private rentals paid for with housing choice vouchers (also known as Section 8).
Public housing and Section 8 properties are supposed to be investigated for lead if a child under six in the property has blood lead levels over 3.5 micrograms per deciliter.
CMHA did not respond to emailed questions from Signal Cleveland, which asked whether any tenant could request a lead test. Last summer, the agency said it would retest units for lead after an inspector general report found CMHA provided poor oversight of lead poisoning in its units, Ideastream reported at the time.
Properties receiving rent from tenants with housing choice vouchers must be inspected first. This inspection includes a visual assessment of lead risks from paint.
Who can help me if I find lead in my home?
It depends on what changes need to be made. The Lead Safe Resource Center can provide insight into specific steps a property owner can take depending on what they find.
Federal law does require a special certification for anyone undertaking renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, according to the Ohio Department of Health. The EPA certification training (called RRP for renovation, repair and painting) is offered by the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition. The coalition also provides a list of certified contractors in the Cleveland area.
Easy ways tenants and homeowners can reduce lead exposure
While property owners may need to pay for construction and repairs to remove lead risk, there are steps residents can take to reduce lead exposure in their homes.
That includes leaving shoes at the front door to avoid tracking in any lead dust and wiping down dusty surfaces – especially windows and kids’ play areas – with soapy water.
The Cleveland Department of Public Health shares some more tips below.