NAHMA HUD Update: HUD issues Final Lead Safe Housing RuleJanuary 18, 2016 HUD issued its Final Rule on Lead Safe Housing, effective February 13, 2017 and with a compliance date of July 13, 2017. HUD's new action level for lead in a young child's blood has been lowered from 20 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood (µg/dL) to 5, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance. When a child under age six resides in HUD-assisted housing and has an elevated blood level, the housing provider will have to test the home and other potential sources of the child's lead exposure within 15 days, and ensure that hazards from lead-based paint, dust, or soil are controlled within 30 days. The housing provider must also report the case to HUD so the Department can ensure that follow-up is completed on time. This rule will cover about 3 million HUD-assisted housing units built before 1978, the year lead-based paint was banned for residential use. Of these homes, about 500,000 are estimated to have children under age six residing in them. To view HUD’s press release about the Final Rule, please click here. |