I owner occupy a duplex in Kamm's Corner. My certification is due this quarter. The house is in good shape with various updates so I'm not too worried about it, but curious if anyone else has gone through the process yet and if there were any surprising headaches?
My PM agency is also charging $450 for this. Anyone here with a better idea ? Thanks
This is what everyone charges. I paid $450/unit directly to the lead inspection company. FYI, each landlord is eligible for $500/unit reimbursement from the Lead Safe Resource Center up to 3 units per landlord. Here's the text from the email I got from the LSRC...
Environmental Health Watch Incentive Program
What is the incentive? The incentive is a reimbursement of $500 per certification for potential costs associated with achieving a Lead Safe Certification.
How do I receive the incentive? A landlord must receive a Lead Safe Certification from the City of Cleveland Building & Housing and submit the certification letter to the Lead Safe Resource Center via, to tracie dot washington at ehw dotorg
How long does the process take? Upon verification of the Lead Safe Certification letter, the incentive should be processed and available within ten weeks.
Are the incentives unlimited? The incentives are divided over the entire city of Cleveland and are available for up to three units at $500 each per landlord.
Investor ยท Cleveland, OH ยท Member since 2020 ยท 20 posts ยท 17 votes
5y
Hi @Rick Jarrell & @Federico Gutierrez we recently got some feedback regarding the changes. It sounds like the county still hasn't quite determined the exact process/implementation/etc. - are you surprised? :) Here is the feedback we received:
The lead clearance examination is all you would need to comply with lead safe legislation. The lead risk assessment is for when you want to know where the lead is specifically.
We charge $200 for the first unit that includes a walkthrough of the process, what to look out for and how to prepare before the lead clearance exam. The price drops to $150 per unit after the first unit.
A clearance exam consist of a visual assessment and if there is any chipping, cracked or peeling paint you automatically fail the inspection. After the visual assessment we collect 13 dust wipe samples throughout the house which we send to a lab and for determination of lead dust. Once we collect the results from the lab 7-10 days later we return a report which you send to the city to receive a lead safe certificate.
Again I would recommend a walkthrough, which I can do this Friday and then perform the lead clearance exam early next week.
Hi @Rick Jarrell & @Federico Gutierrez we recently got some feedback regarding the changes. It sounds like the county still hasn't quite determined the exact process/implementation/etc. - are you surprised? :) Here is the feedback we received:
The lead clearance examination is all you would need to comply with lead safe legislation. The lead risk assessment is for when you want to know where the lead is specifically.
We charge $200 for the first unit that includes a walkthrough of the process, what to look out for and how to prepare before the lead clearance exam. The price drops to $150 per unit after the first unit.
A clearance exam consist of a visual assessment and if there is any chipping, cracked or peeling paint you automatically fail the inspection. After the visual assessment we collect 13 dust wipe samples throughout the house which we send to a lab and for determination of lead dust. Once we collect the results from the lab 7-10 days later we return a report which you send to the city to receive a lead safe certificate.
Again I would recommend a walkthrough, which I can do this Friday and then perform the lead clearance exam early next week.
That's good info. Do you have a contact for this lead inspector? I'm curious if anyone has gone through the entire process and what we can expect? I've heard horrid stories that it can cost 10k or more but perhaps those are the exceptions and not majority of places.
Hi Everyone. I wanted to check in and find out what you experience has been like with the lead certification process? My SFR needs to go through this and I am having a hard time finding others who have gone through the process. Thanks in advance for your input.
Real Estate Agent ยท Cleveland, OH ยท Member since 2020 ยท 3 posts ยท 0 votes
5y
@Rick Jarrell
To me it's just a money grab. A lead test every two years that you must pay a permit for. If it wasn't there two years prior it won't be there later when fresh non lead based paint is used. The city loves to try and tax landlords all they can.
I've had two investors try to get it done but they haven't responded to us at all.
@Jeremy Rodriguez I don't think it's a money grab. There's $5m+ in financial assistance to landlords from what I recall. Didn't realize it was a bi-annual thing though. Kind of a pain but if that means safe homes for kids, it's not a big deal to me.
Accountant ยท Minneapolis, MN ยท Member since 2018 ยท 81 posts ยท 21 votes
5y
I own one SFH in 44135. My property manager just provided an estimate for repairs necessary to make it "lead safe". The estimate came in at ~7k. I called the lead safe coalition (833-601-5323) to find out about financial assistance and they are going to send me some information.
Not happy about this. It is unlikely I will ever invest in the Cleveland market again. This one of many reasons why real estate is so cheap in Cleveland. There are better cash flow markets that are more landlord friendly. Invest your dollars there.
Realtor ยท Oakland, CA and a Real Estate Investor with Multi-Family Units and a Self Storage Facility ยท Member since 2016 ยท 2k+ posts ยท 2k+ votes
5y
I have been going through it. The lazy way out is just to ask your PM to handle it. However if you want to be educated about the process there is stuff online with the City, just google it. They also have a list of certified lead RRP contractors that you can contact directly....which is what I did. I basically "interviewed" over the phone a couple of them. Then I had them liason with my PM to go into my rentals and do the work.
Lender ยท Asheville, NC ยท Member since 2016 ยท 1k+ posts ยท 1k+ votes
5y
Can someone please clarify: the original post mentioned quarterly lead safe inspections but other respondents have cited an inspection being required every 2 years. Which is correct?
I have been going through it. The lazy way out is just to ask your PM to handle it. However if you want to be educated about the process there is stuff online with the City, just google it. They also have a list of certified lead RRP contractors that you can contact directly....which is what I did. I basically "interviewed" over the phone a couple of them. Then I had them liason with my PM to go into my rentals and do the work.
This is really helpful, would you mind sharing the RRP contractor you worked with?
Lender ยท Asheville, NC ยท Member since 2016 ยท 1k+ posts ยท 1k+ votes
5y
Thanks @Brian Garlington! We're looking closely at Cleveland, Toledo and Dayton. I was aware lead paint was an issue, but this is the most detail I've come across so far.
I own one SFH in 44135. My property manager just provided an estimate for repairs necessary to make it "lead safe". The estimate came in at ~7k. I called the lead safe coalition (833-601-5323) to find out about financial assistance and they are going to send me some information.
Not happy about this. It is unlikely I will ever invest in the Cleveland market again. This one of many reasons why real estate is so cheap in Cleveland. There are better cash flow markets that are more landlord friendly. Invest your dollars there.
Or just only buy places built after 1978 ๐คท๐ปโโ๏ธ
Investor ยท Cleveland, OH ยท Member since 2017 ยท 18 posts ยท 13 votes
5y
@Bonnie Low
Cleveland instituted the โlead safe initiativeโ an ordinance that was passed in 2019 and implemented March 2021. This inspection and testing is required every two years going forward. ๏ฟผ without the passing certificate you will not be able get your rental registration or be able to evict a tenant if necessary. ๏ฟผ๏ฟผThe short of the ordinance is that it is trying protect children from lead poisoning..testing the house to prove that the house does NOT have lead NOT proving that the house DOES have lead๏ฟผ. The first two zip codes to roll out in March were 44120 and 44135.. I have rental properties in both ZIP Codes and the process is fairly simple if you have a certified company who can walk you or your PM through the process and execute all the steps necessary to get the certificate.๏ฟผ Iโm happy to share info if you PM me..
I have been going through it. The lazy way out is just to ask your PM to handle it. However if you want to be educated about the process there is stuff online with the City, just google it. They also have a list of certified lead RRP contractors that you can contact directly....which is what I did. I basically "interviewed" over the phone a couple of them. Then I had them liason with my PM to go into my rentals and do the work.
How has your experience been in terms of cost? Is the city requiring you to spend thousands of dollars for each property or is it more or less easy to get the certificate?
My biggest challenge with this is that I have a duplex that is fully occupied. It's not clear to me how clean the house needs to be before the inspection. I personally wouldn't trust my tenants to do the cleaning for an inspection I'm paying for. It would also feel like an invasion of their privacy if I'm cleaning every room in their home.
My PM agency is also charging $450 for this. Anyone here with a better idea ? Thanks
This is what everyone charges. I paid $450/unit directly to the lead inspection company. FYI, each landlord is eligible for $500/unit reimbursement from the Lead Safe Resource Center up to 3 units per landlord. Here's the text from the email I got from the LSRC...
Environmental Health Watch Incentive Program
What is the incentive? The incentive is a reimbursement of $500 per certification for potential costs associated with achieving a Lead Safe Certification.
How do I receive the incentive? A landlord must receive a Lead Safe Certification from the City of Cleveland Building & Housing and submit the certification letter to the Lead Safe Resource Center via, to tracie dot washington at ehw dotorg
How long does the process take? Upon verification of the Lead Safe Certification letter, the incentive should be processed and available within ten weeks.
Are the incentives unlimited? The incentives are divided over the entire city of Cleveland and are available for up to three units at $500 each per landlord.
Investor ยท Broadview Hts, OH ยท Member since 2016 ยท 310 posts ยท 280 votes
4y
@Dave Stokley thank you for the info. I have mostly invested in properties in the subs the last few years and haven't invested within Cleveland city limits since before the lead cert. Honestly from what I have been hearing from my friends, It's been a huge pain in the butt for many of them. I don't want to miss out on any good opportunities because of my apprehension on this issue.