# Lead paint

> Paint containing lead, sold for use in homes until 1978, and still found in most homes built before then. Paint in good condition isn't the problem. The hazard is dust from paint that peels, chips or cracks, or that's sanded or scraped during repairs.

By David Knorr, founder of BuyWise Home. Last reviewed October 28, 2026. Web page: https://www.buywisehome.com/guide/glossary/lead-paint

## Why it matters to you

For a home built before 1978, federal law requires the seller to give you a lead paint disclosure and an information pamphlet. You also get 10 days to test for lead, unless you agree in writing to a different time or waive it. A standard home inspection doesn't test for lead.

Look closely at windows, doors, trim and railings, where friction wears old paint down. If you plan to renovate, anyone paid to disturb painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 must be certified in lead-safe work, so get quotes from certified contractors before you budget the job.

## Read more

- [Step 6: Due diligence](https://www.buywisehome.com/guide/due-diligence): The tests a standard inspection doesn't include, and when to order them
- [Step 7: Negotiating repairs](https://www.buywisehome.com/guide/negotiate-repairs): How to turn a contractor's quote into a credit request
- [Which inspections do you need?](https://www.buywisehome.com/guide/tools/which-inspections): Whether this home calls for a lead test, and the other checks to book with it
- [U.S. EPA: Real estate disclosures about potential lead hazards](https://www.epa.gov/lead/real-estate-disclosures-about-potential-lead-hazards): What the seller of a pre-1978 home must give you, and your 10-day right to test
- [U.S. EPA: Reduce your risk of lead exposure at home](https://www.epa.gov/lead/reduce-risk-lead-exposure-home): Where lead is found in a home, and how to live with it safely

## An example with numbers

The home was built in 1965. With the contract, the seller gives you the lead disclosure and the pamphlet, and your contract gives you the 10 days to test, counted like your other deadlines. You book a certified lead inspector on day 1, get the result by day 7, and if the paint on the old windows tests positive, you get a quote for replacing them before your due diligence ends.

## Related

- [Step 6: Due diligence](https://www.buywisehome.com/guide/due-diligence)
- [Seller's disclosure](https://www.buywisehome.com/guide/glossary/sellers-disclosure): The seller's written answers about what they know of the home's condition.
- [Home inspection](https://www.buywisehome.com/guide/glossary/home-inspection): A visual check of the home's condition by a professional inspector.
- [Asbestos](https://www.buywisehome.com/guide/glossary/asbestos): A mineral in some older building materials. Unlikely to harm you intact; a hazard when disturbed.
- [Radon](https://www.buywisehome.com/guide/glossary/radon): An invisible gas from the soil. A separate test, not part of a standard inspection.

_General information from public guidance. Rules and contracts differ by state, and your own contract decides: read it, and ask your agent or closing agent about anything that matters. Not legal or financial advice._