The City of Cleveland requires rental property owners to obtain lead safe certificates starting March 2021 for all properties built before 1978. This requirement rolled out over eight quarters, by zip code (see the draft map). To obtain this certificate, rental property owners need to submit a lead clearance examination or risk assessment that identifies no lead hazards present on the property on the date of the site visit. This process repeats itself every two years.
The City of Cleveland also offers a 20-year exemption for properties that have no lead-based paint. An XRF analyzer (x-ray florescence analyzer) is needed to see through all layers of paint to determine if there are any layers of lead-based paint. This type of inspection is called a formal “Lead Inspection”. We own an XRF analyzer and provide this service.
There is a lot of information and misinformation swirling around concerning lead-based paint, the City ordinance and how difficult it is to pass a clearance exam. We help you understand the difference between a clearance exam, risk assessment and full lead inspection - and which option might be best for you. We are also honest with you if your property has little chance of passing. We are equally comfortable tackling large multifamily projects and small single-family portfolios.
In addition to clearance exam services, we offer advisory services to assist rental property owners to size up the task of making their properties lead-safe. We identify options that range from almost no-cost (during make-readies) to low-cost to quite expensive. Every owner has a unique set of considerations based on operating margins, property condition, and ownership time horizon.
The costs of our services are highly competitive (see Fee Schedule).
Our Services
Clearance Exams
Risk Assessments
Lead Inspection (using an XRF analyzer)
Combined Lead Inspection and Risk Assessment (LIRA)
Advisory Services (up to 2 hours)