Owners of Boston rental units built before 1978 must comply with the Massachusetts Lead Law (MGL Ch. 111 §§189A-199B) and 105 CMR 460, deleading or interim-controlling units occupied by children under six.
Boston enforces the Massachusetts Lead Law alongside the federal Title X disclosure rule. For pre-1978 housing, MGL Ch. 111 §197 requires owners to delead or bring under interim control any unit where a child under six resides, regardless of whether elevated blood lead has been detected. Owners must provide tenants the Tenant Lead Law Notification at lease signing. Deleading must be performed by a licensed deleader or, for limited covered surfaces, by a trained owner-occupant. The Boston Public Health Commission Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program partners with the state Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program to inspect homes when a child tests positive and orders compliance.
Violations under MGL Ch. 111 §199 expose owners to triple damages, attorney fees, and BPHC enforcement orders; failure to disclose under 105 CMR 460 may also be enforced as a deceptive practice under MGL Ch. 93A.
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