KRF Management 211 S 45th St, Philadelphia PA 19104 215/349-6500, fax: 215/349-6502 e-mail: krfapt@aol.com website: www.krf.icodat.com online bulletin board: www.krf.icodat.com/news

– Lead Paint Advisory –

The US Environmental Protection Agency and the Philadelphia Health Department require housing providers who rent buildings constructed before 1978 to advise prospective tenants that lead-based paint is likely to be present on the premises. If lead is assimilated by humans or animals, by being eaten or breathed, it can pose a health hazard. Children and, under certain circumstances, pregnant women are thought to be most sensitive to the possible risks.

Almost all buildings in older high-density Philadelphia neighborhoods such as University City and Center City, as well as in most of the surrounding suburbs, are in this condition. Your building has not been specifically tested for lead, but it is undoubtedly present. However, the renovations and redecorations which have been done during the past 20 years will most likely have removed any old loose lead paint, and have sealed the rest behind multiple layers of non-hazardous latex paint. Therefore, although the potential hazards of lead should not be ignored, they are not necessarily a cause for concern to people desiring to live in older buildings. Studies in several neighborhoods where lead has actually proven to be a problem have suggested that the source was much more apt to be lead which settled in the ground during the years when automobiles used "leaded" gas, and which children ingested while playing outdoors, than old paint.

The City of Philadelphia requires that you be offered the opportunity to have lead inspections or lead risk assessments conducted at the time you sign a new lease, at your own expense. If the inspection or assessment discloses hazards which you find unacceptable, it is your right to void the lease with no financial penalty. That is, you do not have to move into the building and you get back any money you have deposited.

Under these requirements, you will have 10 days from the receipt of this notice to have the inspection done, and you will have 2 days after receiving your report to let us know that you wish to cancel your lease.

If you would like detailed information about lead poisoning prevention, you may obtain a pamphlet from the City by calling 215/685-2797. You may also call the National Lead Information Center at 800/424-LEAD.

I understand my rights to have an inspection for lead paint in the unit I propose to lease, and to void my contract within 12 days of the date below, without financial penalty, if a hazard which I consider unacceptable is found to be present.

Last updated 11.2.2008