42 U.S.C. § 4852a
Task force on lead-based paint hazard reduction and financing (THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE (42 U.S.C.))
Operative Text
The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall establish a task force to make recommendations on expanding resources and efforts to evaluate and reduce lead-based paint hazards in private housing. The task force shall include individuals representing the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Farmers Home Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Environmental Protection Agency, employee organizations in the building and construction trades industry, landlords, tenants, primary lending institutions, private mortgage insurers, single-family and multifamily real estate interests, nonprofit housing developers, property liability insurers, public housing agencies, low-income housing advocacy organizations, national, State and local lead-poisoning prevention advocates and experts, and community-based organizations located in areas with substantial rental housing. The task force shall make recommendations to the Secretary and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency concerning— incorporating the need to finance lead-based paint hazard reduction into underwriting standards; developing new loan products and procedures for financing lead-based paint hazard evaluation and reduction activities; adjusting appraisal guidelines to address lead safety; incorporating risk assessments or inspections for lead-based paint as a routine procedure in the origination of new residential mortgages; revising guidelines, regulations, and educational pamphlets issued by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and other Federal agencies relating to lead-based paint poisoning prevention; reducing the current uncertainties of liability related to lead-based paint in rental housing by clarifying standards of care for landlords and lenders, and by exploring the “safe harbor” concept; increasing the availability of liability insurance for owners of rental housing and certified contractors and establishing alternative systems to compensate victims of lead-based paint poisoning; and evaluating the utility and appropriateness of requiring risk assessments or inspections and notification to prospective lessees of rental housing. The members of the task force shall not receive Federal compensation for their participation.
Under 42 U.S.C. § 4852a, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, working with the EPA Administrator, is directed to convene a broadly representative task force focused on lead-based paint hazards in private housing. The task force draws membership from a wide range of stakeholders—including government agencies, lenders, landlords, tenants, insurers, nonprofit developers, and community organizations—and is charged with producing recommendations on topics such as financing hazard reduction, updating appraisal and mortgage origination practices, clarifying landlord liability standards, and improving compensation systems for those harmed by lead-based paint. Members serve without federal pay.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Landlords are explicitly named as stakeholders under 42 U.S.C. § 4852a, meaning the task force's work is intended to reflect their perspective alongside those of lenders and insurers. Among the areas the task force examines are clearer standards of care for rental property owners and the potential development of 'safe harbor' protections, which could eventually shape how liability is defined in the rental housing context. Operators who stay informed about HUD guidance updates and financing products that may emerge from this process are generally better positioned to address lead hazard reduction in their properties.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
42 U.S.C. § 4852a explicitly includes tenant representatives and low-income housing advocates in the task force, signaling that renter interests are meant to inform federal recommendations on lead-based paint policy. The provision calls for the task force to examine whether risk assessments, inspections, and notifications to prospective renters should become standard practice—areas that directly affect a tenant's right to know about potential hazards before signing a lease. Tenants who believe lead hazards in their rental unit are not being addressed may find it useful to contact a local tenant-rights organization, a state or local lead-poisoning prevention program, or a rent board if one exists in their jurisdiction.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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