Abode Home Inspections, LLC

Contact our office at 410-661-6962 or email us

If you have a new tenant, you may need a Lead Inspection. Call our office today.

As of January 1, 2015, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) have made changes in the law that will affect all rental properties built before 1978: (Search your ID # by clicking the GREEN button below)
  • All residential rental properties constructed prior to 1978 must comply with Maryland's Lead Risk Reduction in Housing Act 
  • For questions regarding registering or renewing your property, please email the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) here. 
  • Fee to the MDE is $30.00/unit.
  • All rental property owners in Maryland are encouraged to contract the Maryland Department of the Environment to acquire their MDE Owner Tracking Number at 410-537-4199, or for toll-free callers 1-800-776-2706. This number identifies YOU, the Owner, with the MDE, and will be the same for all rental properties YOU own under this name with the MDE.
 
Lead Inspection Certificates are required for each tenant turnover.

"What are my responsibilities as a rental property owner in Maryland regarding the lead poisoning program?"  


Lead accredited inspectors are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to answer your questions and schedule your appointment. 

Call Abode today at 410-661-6962

 

For more information about the laws and registration processes, contact Abode Home Inspections. 

How to Prepare for a Lead Inspection

Please make sure that your property is ready before the inspection. This will save your time and money, because if the property fails, it will have to be re-inspected. 

There are two parts to a lead inspection:

Visual Inspection- There can be no chipping or peeling paint, anywhere at the property. 

Dust Wipes- Dust samples must be collected. Make sure the house is clean, because if the dust contains lead, the property could fail the inspection, which calls for a re-inspection. 

In Reference to Wooden Windows:

If you own a rental property with old, wooden windows, you may want to consider to pay the expense of having them replaced with vinyl windows. Lead inspectors are required to take two samples per room in any room containing wood windows, including one in the window well. The window well often contains dust (which may contain lead) caused by friction, wearing down the paint when the window sashes are moved up and down. 

You can have the property inspected with wooden windows, but just make sure that the window well (the part inside the window after the window has been raised) if free of any dirt or dust. A tip for this is to clean the window wells with Simple Green or similar cleaning fluid shortly before the inspection. 

MDE Tracking Number Information

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) tracking number is issued for all properties owned by that Owner. This number is listed on every lead certificate that is issued. 

If you do not have a tracking number from the MDE, you need to obtain one at 410-537-4199, or email them here, mde.leadreg@maryland.gov. The MDE will assist you with obtaining a tracking number and password, for which you can use to register, or renew, your property online at this link. 

For rental property owners in Baltimore City, you must register each dwelling unit with:  

  1. the City of Baltimore annually.  Contact the City of Baltimore at 410-396-3575 to request the registration materials.  Fee to the City of Baltimore is $30.00/unit.
  2. the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) annually for homes built prior to 1978.  Contact the MDE at 410-537-3825 to request the registration materials.  Fee to the MDE is $30.00/unit.

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For rental property owners in Baltimore County, you must register each dwelling unit with:

  1. the Rental Housing Program through Baltimore County every three years.  Contact Baltimore County at 410-887-3351 to request the licensing application materials.  Fee to Baltimore County is generally $50.00/unit. 
  2. the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) annually for homes built prior to 1978.  Contact the MDE at 410-537-3825 to request the registration materials.  Fee to the MDE is $30.00/unit.

Lead Inspection Certificates are required for each tenant turnover.  ABODE accredited inspectors are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to answer your questions and schedule your appointment.  CONTACT ABODE. 

Many property owners are unaware of their responsibilites as rental property owners in Maryland regarding the lead poisoning program.  ABODE has accredited lead inspectors and educated staff members on the lead laws in Maryland.  Contact a member of ABODE's staff with your questions.  Below are a number of documents you can review from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).  The registration form including instructions to print out, complete and submit with payment to the MDE as a rental property owner is also included below. 

Contact ABODE