Lead poisoning can delay or impair learning and growth in your children or grandchildren. Protect your family and friends. This program offers eligible homeowners, landlords, or tenants financial assistance help with lead-based paint abatement.
What are the benefits?
- Receive a forgivable loan of up to $8,500 per housing unit to help rid your home of the harmful effects of lead
- Receive technical assistance from the city's lead specialists
- Learn how to comply with the Massachusetts Lead Law in order to take advantage of the State's Lead Paint Removal Tax Credit
- Reduce the risk of lead paint poisoning for your children
Who is eligible?
- Must be a property owner in Boston
- If applicant is an owner-occupant of a 1–4 family home or condo with a child under six years of age, household income must not exceed 80% of CDBG Moderate Income as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- If applicant is an investor-owner of a 1–4 family home, HUD requires that rental preference be given to families with children under six years of age and at least 50% of the building's residents be of low or moderate income, with remaining units occupied by families with a household income at 80% of CDBG Moderate Income.
How do I apply and what happens next?
- Apply for Lead Safe Boston funding
Please print and complete the following forms, before returning signed copies to the Boston Home Center.
Based on the inventory of repairs needed, a projected cost will be compiled. Your neighborhood agency will help you secure funding from the Boston Home Center.
- Finalize your loan and select a contractor
After you have completed all remaining paperwork associated with your funding, the Boston Home Center will help you arrange for a lead inspection by a licensed professional that will help you understand the scope of work and cost of your deleading project. A lead specialist will then assist you with abatement strategies, cost estimates, contractor selection, developing an appropriate project timeline, and arranging for temporary relocation if necessary.
- Begin lead paint abatement work
After you have signed all loan closing documents, your contractor can begin the lead paint abatement work. When the work on your home is complete, a final inspection by a lead specialist, lead inspector, and the city's Inspectional Services Department will take place before final payment is made to the contractor. The Boston Home Center will report the lead removal activity to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as is required under the MA Lead Law.
- Adhere to your loan agreement
You are responsible for paying back your Lead Safe Boston loan to the city in accordance with your loan agreement. If you move, sell, refinance or otherwise transfer the property, the loan must be fully repaid at that time.
Have questions?
For more information about the Lead Safe Boston program, call:
The Boston Home Center
Department of Neighborhood Development
Phone: 617.635.HOME (4663)
Email: HomeCenter.DND@cityofboston.gov
* Dollar amounts and financial assistance offers represent conditional and/or deferred loans. Primary mortgage/refinance/rehabilitation loans must be secured by the applicant.
Some programs cannot be combined.
Income eligibility and other restrictions may apply, including repair types and property location.
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