New Jersey renters and landlords can now take advantage of a state-funded program created to remove lead-based paint from residential properties built before 1978. The New Jersey Lead Remediation and Abatement Program (LRAP), which is administered by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (NJDCA), is backed by a $180 million federal government grant. Grantees, who may be nonprofits, for-profit agencies, or municipalities, will work to remediate or abate lead-based hazards from residential properties of low- to moderate-income households in their communities where lead paint has been found.
PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY
Those residing in or owning a residential property in New Jersey built prior to 1978 are encouraged to have their property tested for lead to determine initial program eligibility. Most structures built before this time may still have lead-based paint unless they were previously remediated.
LRAP eligibility criteria include:
- Residential property has tested positive for lead-based paint;
- Property must consist of 1-4 residential units; and
- Resident/tenant applicants must meet low to moderate-income qualifications for their county which is calculated as 80% of the area median income in their respective counties.
APPLYING FOR LRAP
Residents/tenants and landlords believed to be program eligible, may apply online at https://leadabatement.nj.gov/. Once there, click on the “Public (Tenants or Landlords)” dropdown to verify individual household income qualifications via the chart provided and to access the online application. Documents required as part of a complete and submitted LRAP application include:
- Copies of social security cards or equivalent documentation from one household member over the age of 18;
- Proof of residence at the property; and
- Signed “Confirmation of Receipt of Lead Pamphlet.”
Note: Landlords not living in a program-eligible property may only complete the LRAP application on behalf of household income-qualified tenants. In addition, landlords must provide all of the program documentation required of tenant applicants. Landlord income eligibility cannot be used for this program.
WHY ACT NOW?
There are dangers to having lead-based paint in buildings. Lead is toxic, especially to children, and can potentially cause permanent health issues such as brain damage, slowed growth and development, and other problems affecting learning, behavior, hearing, and speech. The most common way young children are exposed to lead is by putting lead-based paint chips in their mouths or by inhaling dust in and around their homes or apartments.
Lead-based paint is usually not a hazard if it is in good condition, and the paint is not on an impact or friction surface, such as a window. Deteriorating lead-based paint (peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking, or damaged paint) is a hazard and needs attention. Lead dust can form when lead-based paint is scraped, sanded, or heated. Dust also forms when painted surfaces bump or rub together. Lead chips and dust can reside on surfaces and objects that people touch.
If lead-based paint hazards are identified, then the owner of the property is required to remediate the hazards through abatement or lead-based paint hazard control mechanisms.
The NJDCA LRAP can help with this process. Learn more at https://leadabatement.nj.gov.
