There are many things to know when it comes to getting a lead clearance for your Detroit rental property. This page will touch on some of the most important resources that you need to know about.

When you are ready to take the next steps, feel free to contact MI Lead Inspections for an estimate by completing the form on this page.

Lead Clearance Process

The state of Michigan requires a lead clearance after all lead hazard control activities have concluded. This ensures that occupants of the home are not exposed to lead from activities such as removing lead dust, treating soil that’s contaminated with lead, or distributing lead based paint (ie renovation work). 

The lead clearance is comprised of 3 steps:

1. A lead inspector or risk assessor reviews the scope of work and ensures that the work was performed as specified and by a properly trained and certified individual.
2. A lead inspector or risk assessor inspects the work area to ensure dust, residue, and debris has been removed and the area is clean.
3. A lead inspector or risk assessor takes dust samples from the work site; the samples will later be analyzed by a lab and compared to EPA thresholds which are 10 ug/ft2 for floors, 100 ug/ft2 for window sills and 100 ug/ft2 for window troughs. The City of Detroit requires rental property owners to obtain lead clearance in order to receive a Certificate of Compliance.

Certificate of Compliance Process

There are state and local requirements that you must know about before renting a property in Detroit. Rental property registration and certification exist so that cities like Detroit can improve its housing quality and safety of its communities. One of these requirements is Detroit rental inspections. 

Here is a summary of the process that must be followed to obtain your certificate of compliance:

1. Register your residential rental property.
   
2. Schedule your rental inspection.
   • For 1 or 2 family dwelling only, schedule a rental inspection with one of the City’s approved third-party inspectors. A list of the 4 inspection companies can be found here.
   • For 3 or More Family Dwelling (Apartment Building, Condominiums, Co-op’s, Mixed Used (Residential and Commercial), Rooming Houses and Townhomes), contact the Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED) at (313) 628-2451 to schedule your inspection.
3. Obtain a Lead Inspection and Risk Assessment and Lead Clearance. MI Lead Inspections can handle this for you as well as providing the City of Detroit or the third-party inspector with copies of the reports.
   
4. You must be up to date on your property taxes or have payments scheduled with Wayne County Treasurer.
   
5. If you have any blight violation judgments or inspection fees that need to be paid, be sure to take care of those before requesting a Certificate of Compliance.
   

Once you’ve fulfilled the requirements, the Certificate of Compliance will be issued. Be sure to continue to follow the renewal process for maintaining your Registered Rental Property in subsequent years, ensuring that the home is safe for inhabitants.

Lead Based Paint Resources

One of the most difficult things to do in regard to lead is make sure that you have all of the proper documentation in order. For that reason, we’ve assembled some of the most crucial lead clearance resources below:

• Form Bcal-4344: This lead hazard risk assessment form must be filled out by a certified lead risk assessor if you own a child care center built before 1978. Areas that must be assessed include all child use areas (outdoor play areas included).
• HUD Guidelines Chapter 7: The chapter focuses solely on lead-based paint inspections. It’s a comprehensive guide on how lead-based paint inspections are performed. It’s intended both for inspectors and for potential clients of inspectors.
• Lead-Based Paint Disclosure: This refers to section 1018 of Title X, also known as the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992. It states that the HUD and EPA must require disclosure of known information about lead-based paint as well as any safety hazards. The rule applies to most residences built prior to 1978.

Do you need a lead clearance report for your Detroit area property? MI Lead Inspections can help you get this completed with as little hassle as possible. We work regularly with individual homeowners and property management companies.

Complete the form on this page and we’ll contact you with a complimentary estimate.