Lead Paint Removal Help for Older Homes

Last updated: July 28, 2026

Lead paint is most common in homes built before 1978. Intact paint may not require full removal. Greater risks include peeling paint, dusty windows and doors, damaged trim, and repair work that creates dust.

Programs often call this lead hazard control, lead-safe repair, healthy homes, or housing rehabilitation. This guide explains where to apply, what may be covered, and what to try if local funding is closed.

Where to start when lead paint is a concern

Begin with health and safety, then look for repair money. A blood lead test is the only way to know whether a child has lead in the blood. The CDC testing guide explains screening and follow-up. CDC currently uses a blood lead reference value of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter to identify children with blood lead levels higher than most children, but no blood lead level in children is considered safe.

Until the home is evaluated, keep children and pregnant people away from peeling paint, paint chips, dusty window wells, damaged porches, and active work areas. Wash hands and toys often. Use damp cleaning methods instead of dry sweeping. Do not dry sand, power sand without proper controls, burn, torch, or aggressively scrape old paint.

Use this order unless a doctor or health department gives you a more direct route:

Understand the type of lead work being offered

“Removal” can mean several things. Most programs do not strip every painted surface. They find and control the hazards most likely to create exposure.

The Environmental Protection Agency explains the difference between abatement and renovation. A lead-safe renovation limits dust during ordinary repair work. Abatement is specifically intended to address lead hazards. Grant-funded lead work may require stricter testing, occupant protection, relocation, and clearance rules than a normal renovation.

Programs that may help pay for lead-safe work

Local HUD-funded lead hazard programs

HUD funds local Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control and Lead Hazard Reduction programs for eligible pre-1978 owner-occupied and rental housing. HUD awards money to jurisdictions and other eligible organizations; homeowners normally apply through the local grantee, not directly to HUD. Use the HUD lead grants page, then contact the housing office serving your address.

Local help may be a no-cost service, grant, or financing agreement. It can cover testing, paint stabilization, high-risk windows or doors, enclosure, cleaning, relocation, and clearance. The inspection sets the scope. Cosmetic upgrades and whole-house replacement are not guaranteed. Landlords or owners may face contribution, affordability, lien, or early-sale repayment rules.

CDBG and HOME rehabilitation

Cities, counties, states, and tribes may use Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) or HOME funds for rehabilitation that includes lead-safe work. Help may be a grant, deferred loan, forgivable loan, regular loan, or a mix. A lien and owner-occupancy period may apply, and a sale, transfer, refinance, or move can trigger repayment. Review the HRG CDBG and HOME guide.

USDA Section 504 for rural homeowners

USDA Section 504 can fund approved health and safety repairs for eligible very-low-income rural homeowners; it is not a lead-only program. As of July 2026, USDA lists loans up to $40,000 at 1% for up to 20 years. Grants up to $10,000 are limited to eligible homeowners age 62 or older, and must be repaid if the home is sold within three years. Loans and grants may be combined up to $50,000; higher disaster limits can apply to eligible declared-disaster damage.

You must own and occupy the home, be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere, meet the county very-low-income limit, and live in an eligible rural area. Apply through a local Rural Development office. Check the USDA repair program and HRG Section 504 guide.

Weatherization and healthy homes coordination

The Weatherization Assistance Program is a no-cost service, not a cash grant or full lead abatement program. Providers may use lead-safe practices, coordinate with a lead program, or defer work when a hazard makes weatherization unsafe. DOE eligibility can include households at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines, Supplemental Security Income recipients, or a state’s elected LIHEAP limit. Homeowners and renters may apply; rental work usually needs owner permission. Apply through the state weatherization office.

Other local and nonprofit help

State lead programs, tribal housing departments, Community Action Agencies, hospitals, and repair nonprofits may offer testing, repairs, case management, volunteer labor, or referrals. Lead work requires trained, properly certified staff. Check state lead programs and the HRG home repair assistance guide.

Who may qualify and what can block approval

Local rules differ. Do not assume that one county’s program applies in the next county. Many programs use several of these conditions:

• The home was built before 1978.
• The property is inside the program’s service area or target neighborhood.
• Household income is below the local limit for the household size.
• A child under age 6 lives in or regularly visits the home, or a pregnant person lives there. Some programs require or prioritize an elevated blood lead level, while others do not.
• The applicant owns and occupies the home, or the landlord agrees to all rental-program rules.
• The home can be inspected and repaired within the program budget.
• Work that started before written approval may be ineligible.
• A vacant home, second home, investor-owned property outside rental rules, or property outside the service area may not qualify.

Income limits often come from HUD and vary by county, household size, and program year. Some programs serve households at or below 80% of Area Median Income, while others use a lower limit. Check the official HUD income limits, but let the local program make the final calculation.

Property taxes, insurance, mortgage status, ownership records, code violations, structural damage, or the estimated cost of repair can also affect approval. Ask whether a problem can be corrected rather than assuming it is an automatic denial.

How to apply and what documents to gather

Call before completing a long application. Confirm that the office serves your address, accepts new applications, and handles lead hazards. The HRG guide on applying for repair help explains how to organize the process.

After intake, the program may verify income and ownership, inspect the home, test for lead, write a repair scope, and compare the cost with its limit. You may sign a grant, loan, lien, occupancy, landlord, or relocation agreement. The program may select the contractor or require approved bids and permits. Certain projects end with independent dust clearance before final payment and re-entry.

Contractor and lead-safe work rules

The EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule generally requires paid firms disturbing paint in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities to be certified and use trained workers and lead-safe practices. It can cover painters, window installers, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and maintenance firms.

A minor repair exception may apply when no more than 6 square feet of interior paint per room or 20 square feet of exterior paint is disturbed. It does not apply to window replacement, demolition of painted surfaces, or prohibited work practices. Unless testing shows that affected paint is not lead-based, a covered contractor should treat it as regulated work. Read the current EPA contractor rules.

The federal RRP rule generally does not cover an owner working in the owner’s own home, but it can apply to rentals, home child care, or homes renovated for resale. DIY dust can still poison a child, and local rules may be stricter. Use the EPA firm locator or call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-5323. Authorized state or tribal programs may use their own registry.

Lead-safe renovation does not guarantee that all lead paint will be removed. Standard RRP work usually ends with cleaning verification, while abatement or grant-funded hazard control may require independent dust clearance testing. Ask which standard applies before signing.

Lead paint help for renters

Renters can report a hazard and request help, but the owner usually must allow inspection and sign documents before repair funds can be used. Put the request in writing. Include photos, the location of peeling paint or dust, the age of the building if known, and any health department or medical notice.

Federal law generally requires sellers and landlords of most pre-1978 housing to disclose known lead information and available reports before sale or lease. Disclosure alone does not require removal, but state or local law may require repair of deteriorated paint or hazards. Review the EPA disclosure rules.

If paid maintenance or renovation disturbs paint, the landlord or property manager must follow applicable RRP rules. Report suspected federal lead-rule violations through the EPA complaint page. For unsafe housing, also contact the local health department, code enforcement office, or housing agency.

For retaliation, repair disputes, a landlord refusing access for a health investigation, or another legal problem, use the legal aid finder. Laws and legal-aid eligibility vary by location.

What to do if help is denied, delayed, or unavailable

Ask for the exact reason in writing. A denial may be caused by the service area, household income, missing documents, ownership problems, lack of owner consent, closed funding, property condition, repair cost, or a household-priority rule. The reason tells you what to fix or where to try next.

Submit missing items promptly and keep proof. If money is exhausted, ask when intake may reopen and whether the waiting list carries over. If the home is outside the service area, try the county, regional agency, state lead office, tribe, or Community Action Agency.

Try parallel paths: local lead hazard control, CDBG or HOME rehabilitation, USDA Section 504 if rural, weatherization, nonprofit repair, and a health department referral. Use the HRG guide for denied repair help and the repair starting guide.

A HUD-approved housing counselor can help you compare repair financing and avoid unaffordable debt. Search for a HUD housing counselor or call 1-800-569-4287. A counselor does not approve lead grants and may not know every local opening, but can help you review loan terms and organize next steps.

A seven-day action plan