Are you worried about lead paint where you live? Here’s a guide to getting your Cleveland home tested

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.

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.