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Former York, Pa., Landlords Settle Violations of Lead-paint Notification Rule

Release Date: 10/11/2005
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543

Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543

PHILADELPHIA - The former landlords of a rental property in York, Pa., have settled alleged violations of a federal law requiring disclosure of lead-based paint hazards to residential tenants, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.

In a consent agreement with EPA, Carla Frey and William Frey, Jr. have agreed to pay a $16,300 penalty for failing to disclose known lead-based paint hazards to residential tenants in a building they owned on West Princess St. in York, Pa.

The Freys were cited under the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992. This federal law requires sellers and landlords of residential housing built before 1978 (when the federal government banned the sale of lead-based house paint) to notify purchasers and tenants about the presence of known lead-based paint hazards, or disclose their lack of knowledge of such hazards.

EPA cited Mr. and Ms. Frey for failing to inform tenants about lead-based paint hazards in their building, and for failing to provide records and reports related to these hazards. The alleged violations involve three leases in the 2000-2002 period for the Freys’ rental property, which they sold in 2004.

The settlement reflects Mr. and Ms. Frey’s cooperation with EPA in resolving this matter, and their past cooperation with the City of York in addressing lead-paint issues in their property. As part of the settlement, the Freys neither admitted nor denied liability for the cited violations.

EPA is cooperating with other federal, state, and local agencies to protect tenants and homeowners from the health risks of lead-based paint. High blood levels of lead can cause permanent damage to the nervous system and widespread health problems, such as a reduced intelligence and attention span, hearing loss, stunted growth, reading and learning problems and behavioral difficulties. Young children, in particular, are most vulnerable because their nervous systems are still developing. For more information on environmental, health, and legal issues involving lead, please visit https://www.epa.gov/lead/index.html.