Lead paint certificate expiring

[Walter C.]

Hi,

I just learned that the lead-safe certificate will expire this year, in Philadelphia. But I will be away for some time, and won't be able to renew until after the expiration. Has this happen to anyone, where one renewed sometime after it expired? Was there any problem because of that?

[Scott Nachitilo]

Hi Walter,

I get why you're worried about your lead-safe certificate running out while you're not around. Lots of folks have been in the same boat, and it's pretty common to renew after it's expired.

However, here's what you might want to think about:

Grace Period: Look into whether Philadelphia gives you some extra time to renew expired certificates. Sometimes, you can renew without getting hit with penalties for a short while after it expires.

Contact Local Authorities: You should get in touch with the city's housing office or whoever gave you the certificate. They can tell you what to do in your case.

Document Everything: Make sure you keep track of who you talk to and any steps you take to renew. This might come in handy if anyone asks questions later on.

Temporary Measures: If you can maybe someone else could take care of the renewal for you. They might be able to send in the paperwork while you're away.

Plenty of people have figured this out before, so don't worry too much. Good luck, and I hope it all works out without any hassle!