Lead-Based Paint

If the rental unit was constructed before 1978, the landlord must comply with all of these requirements:

• The landlord must disclose the presence of known lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards in the dwelling before the tenant signs the lease or rental agreement. the landlord also must give the tenant a copy of the federal government's pamphlet, "protect Your Family From lead in Your home" (available by calling (800) 424-leAd, or online at www.epa.gov/ lead/pubs/leadpdfe.pdf), before the tenant signs the lease or rental agreement.
• The landlord is not required to conduct any evaluation of the lead-based paint, or to remove it.
• The lease or rental agreement must contain a lead warning statement in specific required language.
• The landlord also must give potential tenants and tenants a written disclosure of information on lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint hazards.

Periodic Pest Control Treatments

A pest control company must give written notice to the landlord and tenants of rental property regarding pesticides to be used when the company provides an initial treatment as part of an ongoing pest-control service contract. the landlord must give a copy of this notice to every new tenant who will occupy a rental unit that will be serviced under the service contract.

Asbestos

Residential property built before 1981 may contain asbestos. A leading reference for landlords recommends that landlords make asbestos disclosures to tenants whenever asbestos is discovered in the rental property.

Carcinogenic Material

A landlord with 10 or more employees must disclose the existence of known carcinogenic material (for example, asbestos) to prospective tenants.

Methamphetamine Contamination

Residential property that has been used for methamphetamine production may be significantly contaminated.

A local health officer who inspects rental property and finds that it is contaminated with a hazardous chemical related to methamphetamine laboratory activities must issue an order prohibiting the use or occupancy of the property. this order must be served on the property owner and all occupants. the owner and all occupants then must vacate the affected units until the officer sends the owner a notice that the property requires no further action.

The owner must give written notice of the health officer's order and a copy of it to potential tenants who have completed an application to rent the contaminated property. before signing a rental agreement, the tenant must acknowledge in writing that he or she has received the notice and order. the tenant may void (cancel) the rental agreement if the owner does not does not comply with these requirements. the owner must comply with these requirements until he or she receives a notice from the health officer that the property requires no further action.

Demolition Permit

The owner of a dwelling who has applied for a permit to demolish the dwelling must give written notice of this fact to a prospective tenant before accepting any fee from the tenant or entering into a rental agreement with the tenant. (the owner must give notice to current tenants, including tenants who haven't moved in yet, before applying for a permit.) the notice must state the earliest approximate dates that the owner expects the demolition to occur and that the tenancy will end.

Military Base or Explosives

A landlord who knows that a rental unit is within one mile of a closed military base in which ammunition or military explosives were used must give written notice of this fact to a prospective tenant. the landlord must give the tenant this notice before the tenant signs a rental agreement.

Death in the Rental Unit

if a prior occupant of the rental unit died in the unit within the last three years, the owner or the owner's agent must disclose this fact to a prospective tenant when the tenant offers to rent or lease the unit. the owner or agent must disclose the manner of death, but is not required to disclose that the occupant was ill with, or died from, Aids. however, the owner or agent cannot intentionally misrepresent the cause of death in response to a direct question.

Condominium Conversion Project

A rental unit may be in a condominium conversion project. A condominium conversion project is an apartment building that has been converted into condominiums or a newly constructed condominium building that replaces demolished residential housing. Before the potential tenant signs a lease or rental agreement, the owner or subdivider of the condominium project must give the tenant written notice that:

• The unit has been approved for sale, and may be sold, to the public, and
• The tenant's lease may be terminated (ended) if the unit is sold, and
• The tenant will be informed at least 90 days before the unit is offered for sale, and
• The tenant normally will be given a first option to buy the unit.

The notice must be in legally required language. this notice requirement applies only to condominium conversion projects that have five or more dwelling units and that have received final approval. if the notice is not given, the tenant may recover actual moving expenses not exceeding $1,100 and the first month's rent on the tenant's new rental unit, if any, not to exceed $1,100.