Lead-based paint disclosure
National Real Estate Exam glossary · Property Disclosures
Definition
A federal requirement that sellers and landlords of housing built before 1978 disclose known lead-based paint hazards, provide an EPA-approved pamphlet, and give purchasers a ten-day period to conduct a paint inspection. It applies regardless of state law and is among the few federally mandated property disclosures.
Lead-based paint disclosure in plain English
Before 1978, house paint often contained lead, which is poisonous — especially to little kids who might breathe the dust or eat paint chips. This federal rule says anyone selling or renting a home built before 1978 must tell the buyer or renter about any known lead paint, hand them a government safety pamphlet, and give buyers ten days to hire someone to inspect for it. It's one of the few disclosure rules that comes straight from the U.S. government and applies in every state no matter what local laws say — like a nationwide safety warning label that can't be skipped.
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