Lead Paint Removal Assistance

---

What is lead paint removal assistance?

Am I eligible?

What are the income limits?

What benefits will I get?

How do I apply?

Useful links

What is lead paint removal assistance?

Lead paint removal assistance is money given as a grant, loan, or tax credit to homeowners who cover or remove lead paint hazards from their property. The goal of lead paint removal programs is to reduce the risk of lead poisoning in children. Many Massachusetts cities and towns offer lead paint removal programs, especially communities with older housing. Some communities give grants to cover part of the cost, and loans to cover the rest.

• Lead Removal Grants

  Lead removal grants pay for lead paint testing, lead paint removal or covering, tenant relocation, and other costs in housing that is occupied by low and moderate income families. Lead removal grants are for income-eligible owner-occupants, and for property owners who rent to income-eligible tenants.

  Grants may be used for single-family and multi-family homes (up to 4 units). Priority is usually given to families with young children.

  Lead removal grants are offered by cities and towns and non-profit housing agencies throughout Massachusetts. Funding either comes directly from HUD or from the Massachusetts Lead Abatement Program administered by the DHCD.

• Get the Lead Out Program

  Get the Lead Out is a program that gives low-cost loans to homeowners to help pay the costs of deleading their property. To qualify for a 0% deferred loan, you must be an owner occupant under court order to delead or with a child in case management with the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. For 3% and 5% amortizing loans for preventative deleading, you (or your tenants) must meet income limits.

  Get the Lead Out loans are offered by approved rehabilitation agencies throughout Massachusetts. Homeowners must have their property inspected by a state-licensed lead paint inspector, and use state-licensed deleading contractors for all high-risk work.

• Lead Paint Removal Tax Credit

  The Lead Paint Removal Credit is a state income tax credit for Massachusetts residential property owners who delead their property. For eligibility, benefits, and other information, see Lead Paint Removal Credit.

Am I eligible?

• For community lead paint removal grants, you must be:

  a homeowner who:

  • owns and lives in a home with lead paint
  • meets the income guidelines
  • and has a child living in the home (priority is given to households with children under 6)

  or a property owner who:

  • owns rental units with lead paint
  • rents to tenants who meet the income limits
  • rents to tenants with a child in the household (priority is given to households with children under 6)
  • meets other local requirements 

• For Get the Lead Out loans, you must meet these requirements:

  For 0% deferred loans:

  • you must be an owner occupant under court order to delead, or with a child in case management with the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
  • you must meet program income limits

  For 3% and 5% amortizing loans:

  • if you are an owner-occupant, you must meet program income limits
  • if you rent your property, your tenants must meet program income limits
  • loans can be for preventative deleading

• For the Lead Tax Removal Credit, see Lead Paint Removal Credit - Am I eligible? for eligibility requirements.

What are the income limits?

• For Lead Removal Grants, property owners must meet these income limits:

  • If you live in the property, you must have household income that is no more than 80% of the area median income
  • If you rent the property, your tenants must have household income that is no more than 80% of the area median income

    To find the income limits in your community, see the HUD 2009 Median Family Incomes. "Low Income" on the income chart equals 80% of the median.

• For Get the Lead Out loans:

  You must meet the income limits set by MassHousing. Income limits vary depending on the type of loan, the household size, and the city/town where the property is located. See Get the Lead Out Loan Program Income Limits for income limits by city/town.

• For the Lead Paint Removal Tax Credit, there are no income limits.

What benefits will I get?

Lead Removal Grants

Lead removal grants vary in amount depending on the city or town where you live. The maximum grant is $10,000 for a single-family home, and $8000 per unit for a multi-family home. The average grant is $4000.

Grants can be used to pay the costs of inspection, lead paint removal or covering, temporary relocation of tenants, and other related costs. This money does not have to be repaid.

Get the Lead Out Loans

Most communities offer three types of "Get the Lead Out" loans:

• If you live in your home and meet the 0% deferred loan requirements, you may qualify for a loan with these benefits:

  • You pay no interest.
  • You do not have to repay the loan until you sell, transfer, or refinance your home.
  • There are no monthly payments.

• If you live in your home and meet the 3% or 5% amortized loan income limits, you may qualify for a loan with these benefits:

  • You pay 3% or 5% interest, depending on your income.
  • You make monthly payments over a period of 5 to 15 years to pay back the loan and interest.

• If you do not live in your home, but you rent your property to income-eligible tenants, you may qualify for a loan with these benefits:

  • You pay 5% interest.
  • You make monthly payments over a period of 5 to 15 years to repay the loan and interest.

• For all of these loans, property owners must meet lender requirements and may have to pay certain fees at closing.

The maximum loan amount depends on the type of property:

• single family $30,000
• two-family $35,000
• three-family $40,000
• four-family $45,000

The entire loan amount must be spent for deleading. The loan cannot be used to pay for work that was done before the loan closing date. You must get a Certificate of Compliance when the deleading work is completed.

Lead Paint Removal Credit

See Lead Paint Removal Credit - What benefits will I get?

How do I apply?

In many cities and towns, the Department of Community Development or Housing Services Office is in charge of lead paint removal programs. In other communities, non-profit housing agencies are in charge of the programs.

To find the agency or department in charge of the program in your community:

• see the list of Massachusetts lead abatement program agencies on the DHCD web site

• call your city or town Community Development or Neighborhood Development office. For contact information, select your city or town from the list of Commonwealth Communities on the Mass.gov web site. Then choose "Official home page" from the list of links. You will find telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, and street addresses on the city/town web site.

• contact your local approved Housing Rehabilitation Agency. These agencies are listed on the MassHousing web site: Get the Lead Out Agencies

• call MassHousing's toll-free consumer line at 888-843-6432

• call the Department of Housing and Community Development's (DHCD) Lead Program at 617-573-1300

Useful links

These links are external links to web sites that are not part of MassResources.org. When you click on these links, you will leave our site. Click "Back" on your browser to return.

1. Get the Lead Out Loan Program
   Information about Get the Lead Out loans, from MassHousing, including current income limits and other program requirements.

2. Massachusetts Lead Abatement Program
   General information and community contacts for lead abatement grants offered by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

3. Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
   Information about the Massachusetts Lead Law, child lead poisoning, deleading, finding an inspector or deleader, and frequently asked questions, from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

4. MassHousing Knowledge Directory: Homeownership
   Advisory memos, brochures, income limits, and other information about MassHousing homeownership programs.

Lead Paint Removal Assistance section last updated on 4/22/10