Helping Landlords Stay Compliant
We're proud to partner with the City of Detroit to offer cost-free training for small scale landlords and local contractors!
Demystifying, and professionalizing the Landlord process through education
The City of Detroit and Environmental Testing and Consulting (ETC) have announced a new training program aimed at helping landlords and local contractors understand lead paint compliance issues. This program is designed to educate landlords on the dangers of lead paint and the steps they must take to ensure their properties are safe and compliant with the City of Detroit’s lead paint ordinance.
The training program will cover a range of topics, including the dangers of lead paint, various regulations, property maintenance and registration. Landlords will also learn valuable information about working with lead paint professionals, tax benefits and available grants.
DETROIT LANDLORD COURSES BY DATE
Is our site loading slowly for you? Click here to visit our Detroit Landlord Training page directly on Ticket Tailor!
ALL DETROIT LANDLORD COURSES
RENOVATION, REPAIR & PAINTING (RRP)
The EPA-RRP course is designed to teach individuals about the hazards of lead-based paint during renovations and the EPA and HUD regulations that apply to Certified Firms and Certified Renovators. The course covers topics such as identifying lead-based paint, setting up a safe work area, using personal protective equipment, and properly disposing of waste.
The curriculum consists of eight modules, including information on the health risks of lead, regulations, planning, containment of dust, safe work practices, cleaning and verification, recordkeeping, and training non-certified workers. Additionally, the course provides appendices with resources such as HUD requirements, a small entity compliance guide, and hands-on exercises.
By the end of the course, individuals will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to handle lead-based paint safely during renovations.
LEAD SUPERVISOR
The Lead Supervisor course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the required and recommended standards related to lead-based paint, including lead inspection and risk assessment, lead abatement, and worker safety. The course covers regulations related to OSHA/MIOSHA responsibilities, waste disposal, liabilities, insurances, and bidding, as well as hazard controls and 2012 HUD guidelines.
Students will learn about lead-safe work practices, HUD work levels, developing options for lead hazard control plans, and lead hazard control categories. The course also covers personal protection, safety, exposure protection, and job site safety checklists. Cleaning, lead supervisor responsibilities, and documentation are also covered, including bid specifications, scope of work, and lead waste information.
The course includes examples of lead inspection and risk assessment reports and Michigan-specific regulations, and exercises covering Michigan Lead Hazard Control Rules, MIOSHA Part 603, exterior abatement, and Zipstrip SDS.
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TRAINING
The Property Management training class is designed to teach participants how to effectively manage their real estate investments in the city of Detroit. The course covers a range of topics, including an investment overview that includes the history of real estate investment and examples of successful investments.
Participants will also learn about the rate of return on investment and the different types of financial institutions that can help fund their projects. The curriculum also covers the various costs associated with owning and maintaining a property, such as taxes, insurance, repairs, and city fees. In addition, the class will teach students about the pre-occupancy and leasing process, including how to ensure their property is ready for leasing and the permits and inspections required to rent a property in Detroit.
By the end of the course, participants will have a strong understanding of the key elements of effective property management and be equipped with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about their real estate investments.
LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR OPERATING A RENTAL PROPERTY
This comprehensive course is an essential for rental property owners who are seeking to operate their properties within the legal framework of local, state, and federal regulations. The course provides an in-depth understanding of the local requirements for property maintenance, covering the Detroit Property Maintenance Code in detail. Participants will learn about the various fines that can be imposed for non-compliance, and the inspection process for properties.
The course also covers lead hazards, including the Michigan Lead Abatement Act. Additionally, the course provides an overview of federal requirements, including the Fair Housing Act, EPA-RRP, and the Housing Voucher Choice Program.
By the end of the course, participants will have a comprehensive understanding of the legal framework for rental property operations, and how to ensure they remain compliant with local, state, and federal regulations. Participants will learn best practices for ensuring their properties are safe, healthy, and accessible for tenants, while also minimizing their legal risks and liabilities.
MANAGING REHABS, REPAIRS & THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.
This course is designed for property owners and landlords who want to improve their rental property investment by learning about property maintenance and contractor management in Detroit. The course outline covers a range of topics that will help participants understand the investment required to maintain a property, including time, money, and labor.
The course then dives into the role of the landlord and how they can operate as a contractor, covering important considerations such as when to do the work themselves, what permits they need, and how to work with tenants during construction for occupied properties. The course also explains when to hire a general contractor and provides advice on how to find and work with contractors, including contractor licensing, insurance, and general costs of repairs and remodels.
Finally, the course covers the permitting process at BSEED, including the types of permits, various steps in the permitting process, and contact information for the BSEED Construction Division. Participants will come away from this course with a solid understanding of contractor management, property maintenance, and permitting processes in Detroit.
Need More Training?
In partnership with the City of Detroit
Lead Paint Inspection FAQs
The Detroit Lead Paint Ordinance, also known as the Lead Safe Detroit Ordinance, is a local law aimed at protecting children and families from lead poisoning. The ordinance requires rental property owners to register their properties with the city and comply with lead safety requirements. This includes conducting lead inspections, providing education materials to tenants, and taking necessary measures to remediate any lead hazards found in the property. The ordinance also establishes a Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Commission to oversee the implementation of the law and to provide resources and assistance to property owners. The Detroit Lead Paint Ordinance is an important step towards creating safer and healthier housing for all residents of the city.
The 2010 amendment to the Detroit City Code, Chapter 9, Article 1, Division 3 requires the following:
- “Owners of rental property built before 1978 in the City of Detroit must have a lead inspection and risk assessment performed to determine the presence of lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards.”
- “If lead-based paint hazards exist, the hazards must be reduced or controlled using interim controls and/or abatement (as defined by State Law) prior to a tenant occupying the rental property.”
- “After Interim Controls and/or Abatement are performed by properly trained and certified and individuals, the owner must obtain a clearance inspection and lead clearance. Owners must obtain this lead clearance in order to receive a Certificate of Compliance and Rental Registration from the City.”
To rent a property legally within the City of Detroit, one must obtain a Certificate of Rental Registration. This can not be achieved without having a lead clearance.
There are also penalties for non-compliance. The fees vary based on the size of the building, but they range from $500-$2000 for single-family/ duplex owners to $2000 -$8000 for Apartment owners. These penalties can continue daily until compliance is achieved.
Under current laws, the state of Michigan makes landlords responsible for lead paint in their rental property.
It’s a criminal offense in the State of Michigan to rent a residential unit to a family with a minor child who is found to have an elevated blood lead level where the property owner or manager has knowledge that the rental unit contains a lead-based paint hazard. (MCL 333.5475a.)
The penalties that can incur after such an incidence is up to 93 days in jail and/or fines as high as $5000 for first-time offenders, and double that for repeat offenders.
On a smaller scale, it is a violation of the Detroit City Code to maintain a rental property that has lead hazards. Section 24-10-25 of the code states that it is ”unlawful for any owner to maintain a dwelling unit in a condition where lead hazards present danger of lead poisoning to children who inhabit the dwelling.”
The penalty from the city can be as harsh as $500 a day until the said hazard is fixed and cleared.
Federal law requires landlords to disclose all known lead hazards to tenants at the time of lease or lease renewal. This disclosure must occur even if the hazards have been removed, reduced or abated. Not disclosing this information is a violation of HUD, the US Department of Housing, and the EPA. The violations start at $11,000 per agency and violation.
In previous versions of these rental laws, lead hazards were generally not identified until someone, generally, a child had already been exposed to lead via the paint.
Lead poisoning is not reversible, and they can last a lifetime and an ounce of prevention with lead paint is more viable than any cure. The new laws allow for the prevention of pain and suffering and improve the quality of life for all citizens within the city of Detroit.
The City of Detroit Buildings and Safety Engineering department is responsible for the regulations and changes to the city’s ordinance. They can be reached by phone at 800-450-2503
- If you’ve never had a Lead-based paint inspection before.
- If you had an inspection and used interim controls and a clearance, your inspection should be done annually.
- If you had an inspection and used abatement procedures, your inspections should be done every three years.
- If you had an inspection and no lead paint was found, or the home was fully abated, you require no further lead inspections or risk assessments.
Unless you are a certified lead paint inspector within the state of Michigan, you cannot do your own inspections. These services can be provided by a certified Lead Inspector/Risk assessor within the State of Michigan. The Michigan Department of Community Health is in charge of licensing these professionals. ETC employs well over 20 certified lead technicians and is well versed in dealing with the city of Detroit’s rules and regulations. However, if you’d like to see a list of other Lead Safe Inspectors you can find one here!
Contact us at 734-955-6600 for Sales to receive a quote.
Abatement: This method of control seeks to act to reduce levels of lead, particularly in the home environment. Generally, this permanently eliminates lead-based paint hazards. This is done in order to reduce or eliminate incidents of lead poisoning. This involves either the complete removal and replacement of lead-based paint surfaces and fixtures or encapsulation of hazardous materials. This also branches out to the removal and covering of soil hazards. The process of abatement includes preparation, cleanup, disposal, and post-abatement clearances. All abatement work must be performed by a state certified lead abatement firm.
Interim Controls: A less permanent, yet generally lower in immediate cost method of dealing with lead paint hazards. This method is designed to temporarily solve the problem. Interim controls include, but are not limited to :
- Specialized cleaning
- Repairs
- General Maintenence
- Painting
- Temporary Containment
- Ongoing monitoring of lead-based paint or hazards
- Resident Education
The temporary nature is why Interim options require more frequent monitoring than houses which have been abated.
Abatement must be done by a certified abatement worker. This individual has been trained and specialized to perform this task, and has been certified by the Michigan Department of Community health to perform abatement.
Any certified renovator, with accredited training from the state of Michigan Department of Community Health, and has an up-to-date issued certificate can perform renovations and interim controls. These individuals can also act as directors of subcontractors to others who supervise while the renovations are being performed.
As a rental owner, you can. But you must be trained as a certified renovator in order to perform interim controls or renovations that disturb more than 6 square feet of paint per room or 20 feet total.
The good news is, it doesn’t take much to become certified. You or someone on your staff must take the 8-hour Renovate, Repair, and Painting course f from any certified Renovator Trainer. Environmental Testing and Consulting also specializes in this form of training, and we run these classes often. If you are unable to attend one in our Romulus or Lansing branch, you can find more trainers here.
- Call 1-800-450-2503 and obtain a certificate of Rental Registration for each of your properties.
- Schedule a lead inspection /risk assessment for your properties.
- Hire a contractor, or take classes yourself, so that the hazards may be addressed which are highlighted in the Lead Inspection/Risk Assessment report.
- Obtain a Lead Clearance, and send it to ‘Building, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department” @ 313-628-2451
City of Detroit, Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Development
“New Lead Ordinance Requirements for Rental Property Owners”
