EPA Lead Paint Pamphlet for Tenants: 2026 Disclosure Guide
Tenants signing leases on pre-1978 rental housing in the United States are entitled to a federally mandated lead paint disclosure packet. The centerpiece of that packet is the EPA lead paint pamphlet for tenants — formally titled “Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home.” Landlords are required to provide it, tenants are required to acknowledge receipt, and the disclosure paperwork must be signed before lease execution. This guide explains what the pamphlet contains, what landlords must disclose alongside it, what protections tenants have when disclosure is incomplete, and what to do if lead hazards are suspected after move-in. This guide summarizes EPA, HUD, and CDC guidance current as of 2026 — consult your physician for symptoms and a certified professional for testing decisions.
Is this mold, asbestos, or water damage? Get a free instant screen
Upload a clear photo of the suspect area. You'll get an instant AI screening opinion and what to do next. This is screening guidance, not a professional determination.
Screening guidance only. AI can be wrong. Confirm asbestos, mold type, or lead with lab testing or a licensed professional before acting.
What the pamphlet is and where it comes from
The pamphlet “Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home” is a federal disclosure document developed jointly by the EPA, HUD, and CDC. It exists because of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992, commonly called Title X. The Act requires that anyone renting or selling a pre-1978 residential property provide the pamphlet plus a disclosure form identifying any known lead-based paint or lead hazards in the property.
The pamphlet is available free in multiple languages on epa.gov. Landlords may print and provide hard copies or, with tenant consent, deliver an electronic version. Either format satisfies the disclosure requirement so long as the tenant acknowledges receipt before lease signing.
What the pamphlet contains
The pamphlet runs roughly 15 pages and covers the practical information a tenant needs about lead in housing. The main sections include:
Health effects of lead exposure
How lead enters the body, who is most vulnerable (children under 6, pregnant individuals), and what symptoms look like in adults and children. CDC notes that no level of lead in the blood is considered safe in children.
Where lead-based paint is found
Pre-1978 housing, specifically. Friction surfaces (windows, doors, stair edges), impact surfaces, and chewable surfaces are the highest-risk locations. Intact paint on walls is lower risk than deteriorated paint on windows.
How lead hazards form
Deteriorating paint creates dust. Renovation activities that disturb painted surfaces create dust. Soil near the foundation of pre-1978 homes may contain lead. Imported food, traditional remedies, and certain consumer products are secondary sources.
What tenants can do
Wet-clean window sills and floors regularly. Wash children’s hands and toys frequently. Do not disturb deteriorated paint. Report deteriorating paint to the landlord in writing. If renovation is planned, ensure EPA Lead-Safe certified contractors perform any work that disturbs more than 6 SF of interior paint or 20 SF of exterior paint.
What testing reveals
Two test types: lead-based paint testing (does paint contain lead?) and risk assessment (are there active hazards from deteriorated paint or dust?). The risk assessment is more useful for tenants because it identifies actionable hazards.
EPA Lead Safe certified renovation
The Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) rule requires certification for contractors performing renovation work in pre-1978 housing. The pamphlet explains why this matters and how to verify a contractor’s certification.
What landlords must disclose alongside the pamphlet
The pamphlet alone is not enough. Title X also requires a separate disclosure form. The landlord must:
- Disclose any known lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards in the dwelling and common areas
- Provide any available reports or records pertaining to lead-based paint or hazards (paint inspections, risk assessments, abatement records)
- Include a Lead Warning Statement in the lease, formatted as specified by HUD regulation
- Obtain tenant signatures acknowledging receipt of the pamphlet, the disclosure form, and any available records
- Retain the signed disclosure for at least three years after the lease is executed
For the formal disclosure form structure, the Title X federal framework guide walks through the form requirements.
What “known” means in disclosure language
Landlords often misunderstand the disclosure requirement. They are not required to test the property — but they are required to disclose what they actually know. If a prior inspection found lead-based paint, that report must be provided. If the landlord performed a renovation and the contractor’s RRP work order mentioned lead, that must be disclosed. If a prior tenant or building official notified the landlord of deteriorated paint or chip samples, that knowledge must be passed forward.
If the landlord has no known reports or records, they can disclose that. The disclosure form has explicit checkboxes for “no knowledge” and “no records available.” Honest “no knowledge” disclosure is acceptable; failure to disclose known hazards is not.
What tenants gain from the disclosure
The disclosure gives the tenant three concrete things:
- Informed consent. The tenant knows before signing whether the property has documented lead hazards or simply pre-1978 construction.
- Documentation. If lead-related issues arise during the tenancy, the disclosure establishes what the landlord knew at lease execution and when.
- Legal standing. Title X provides for civil penalties when landlords fail to disclose. Tenants who suffer lead exposure in undisclosed properties have stronger legal positions.
The tenant rights guide covers the renter-side disclosure rules in more detail.
When the disclosure does not apply
Title X disclosure rules apply to most pre-1978 residential rentals, but there are exemptions:
- Housing built in 1978 or later (the date the federal residential lead paint ban took effect)
- Zero-bedroom dwellings (lofts, efficiencies, studios where the sleeping area is not separated)
- Housing certified lead-free by a state-accredited inspector
- Designated housing for the elderly (62+) where no child under 6 is expected to reside
- Designated housing for persons with disabilities, with similar resident restrictions
- Short-term leases of 100 days or fewer where no extension is provided
Exemptions are narrow. Most pre-1978 single-family and multi-family rentals fall under the disclosure rule.
How tenants can verify they received proper disclosure
At lease signing, the tenant should expect to receive and sign:
- The EPA pamphlet “Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home”
- A Lead-Based Paint Disclosure form (signed by both landlord and tenant)
- The Lead Warning Statement embedded in or attached to the lease
- Any available reports or records the landlord has about lead in the property
If any of these are missing, the tenant can request them in writing. Failure by the landlord to provide them after request is a Title X violation reportable to HUD and EPA.
What to do if lead hazards are suspected post-move-in
If deteriorated paint, peeling paint, or chipping paint becomes visible after move-in, the tenant should:
- Report it to the landlord in writing (text and email are acceptable; keep copies)
- Avoid disturbing the deteriorated paint (do not sand, scrape, or remove)
- Wet-clean affected surfaces with a damp cloth or sponge, not a dry brush
- If children under 6 reside in the home, consult a pediatrician about blood lead screening — CDC recommends screening for children at risk
- Request that the landlord arrange a lead risk assessment by a certified inspector if the deterioration is significant
For paint testing options, the 2026 Front Range lead paint inspection guide covers what to expect from a professional risk assessment.
The RRP rule and tenant renovation
If the tenant or landlord plans renovation work that disturbs more than 6 SF of interior paint or 20 SF of exterior paint in a pre-1978 unit, the EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) rule requires the contractor to be EPA Lead-Safe certified. This applies to painters, drywall installers, window replacement crews, and similar trades.
Tenants planning DIY renovation should review EPA RRP guidance before disturbing painted surfaces. Hiring an uncertified contractor for RRP-covered work creates legal exposure for both the homeowner/landlord and potentially the tenant if exposure results.
The bigger picture
The disclosure regime is not designed to eliminate lead in pre-1978 housing overnight. It is designed to ensure that tenants make informed decisions and that landlords cannot hide known hazards. The pamphlet, the disclosure form, and the records-sharing requirement together create a documented chain that protects tenants and creates accountability for property owners.
For broader context on the lead and asbestos pre-1978 framework, the pre-1978 housing hazard pillar covers the legal and practical landscape.
How children are screened for lead exposure
If a tenant has children under 6 in a pre-1978 rental, the CDC recommends blood lead screening as part of routine pediatric care, especially during well-child visits at 12 and 24 months. Many states require screening for children enrolled in Medicaid. Front Range pediatricians familiar with the prevalence of older housing in Denver and Boulder neighborhoods typically include this screening in standard pediatric protocols.
A blood lead level above 3.5 micrograms per deciliter triggers public health follow-up under current CDC guidance (the reference threshold was lowered from 5 to 3.5 in October 2021). The follow-up usually includes an environmental investigation of the home to identify the lead source. Tenants whose children screen above the reference level can use the disclosure form as documentation of the landlord’s pre-tenancy knowledge.
Landlord responsibilities beyond disclosure
Disclosure is the floor, not the ceiling, of landlord obligations. Landlords are also responsible for maintaining the property in a habitable condition under state landlord-tenant law, which in Colorado includes addressing deteriorated paint that creates a hazard. HUD’s Lead-Safe Housing Rule applies additional requirements to federally-assisted housing (Section 8, public housing, certain HUD-financed properties).
If deteriorated paint creates a hazard during the tenancy and the landlord fails to address it after written notice, the tenant may have rights under state habitability law to request rent abatement, repair-and-deduct remedies, or in some cases lease termination. Local tenant-protection ordinances in Denver and Boulder provide additional protections in some scenarios.
References
- Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Lead Exposure Prevention — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Renovation, Repair and Painting Program — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
If you’re on the Front Range and considering professional lead risk assessment for a rental or pre-purchase, reach out through our contact page for a referral to a certified inspector.
Lead paint test kits
Instant swab kits flag lead on painted surfaces in minutes — useful before a renovation in any pre-1978 home.
| Product | Why | Buy |
|---|---|---|
 3M LeadCheck Swabs | EPA-recognized instant swabs. | Amazon — $205.00 |
 Lead Test Kit (lab-based) | Mail-in for a documented result. | Amazon — $19.99 |