Selling a Massachusetts Home With Lead Paint? Know the Lead Law
Most Massachusetts homes built before 1978 have some lead paint. The Massachusetts Lead Law requires any home where a child under 6 lives to be deleaded or brought under interim control, and sellers must give buyers the Property Transfer Lead Paint Notification. State tax credits and Get the Lead Out loans help pay for deleading.
What to look for
- Home built before 1978
- Chipping, peeling or chalking paint
- Old wooden windows that rub and create dust
- Paint on porches, railings, doors and trim
- A child with an elevated blood lead test
What it costs
| What | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Lead paint removal (national average) | $1,478 to $5,520; average about $3,499 | angi.com |
| Lead paint removal per square foot (national average) | $6 to $17 per square foot | angi.com |
| Lead inspection (national average) | $300 to $700; average about $500 | angi.com |
| Massachusetts deleading tax credit | Up to $3,000 per unit for full deleading; up to $1,000 for interim control | mass.gov |
| MassHousing Get the Lead Out loan | $30,000 (single-family) to $45,000 (4-family) maximum | mass.gov |
Ranges are published estimates; your quote depends on the house. Get two or three written quotes.
Massachusetts rules to know
- Before a purchase agreement is signed on a pre-1978 home, sellers and agents must give buyers the Property Transfer Lead Paint Notification, plus any lead inspection reports, risk assessments, and Letters of Compliance or Interim Control, and both sides sign the certification (source: mass.gov)
- Buyers have a 10-day statutory right to have a lead inspection (source: mass.gov)
- If a child under 6 will live in a pre-1978 home, the new owner must have it deleaded or brought into interim control within 90 days of taking title (source: mass.gov)
- Landlords can't refuse to rent to families with children under 6 because of lead paint (source: mass.gov)
- Help: a state tax credit up to $3,000 per unit for full deleading (up to $1,000 for interim control) and MassHousing Get the Lead Out loans, deferred at 0% for eligible owner-occupants (mass.gov; masshousing.com)
Who to call
- A Massachusetts-licensed lead inspector or risk assessor; DPH posts a list of licensed private lead inspectors (source: mass.gov)
- A licensed deleader; DLS licenses deleaders and offers a 'find a licensed deleading contractor' search (source: mass.gov)
- The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) at 800-532-9571 with questions
- Your local rehab agency for Get the Lead Out loans (source: masshousing.com)
DIY or hire a pro?
Owners may do some limited deleading tasks themselves after following state rules, but much of the work must be done by licensed deleaders, and only a licensed inspector can issue compliance paperwork. Never dry-sand or heat-gun old paint; if a child may be exposed, talk to a doctor about a blood lead test.
If fixing it is more than you want to take on
You don't have to delead to sell, but you must give buyers the lead notification and any reports you have. You can delead first to widen your buyer pool (families with young children), sell as-is on the open market with the required paperwork, or sell as-is to a cash buyer. A cash buyer will factor deleading into a lower offer.
Want a cash offer on the house as it is?
Western Mass Cash Home Buyers buys houses as-is across Western Massachusetts: no repairs, no cleanout, no fees. You pick the closing date.
Common questions
Do I have to delead my house before selling in Massachusetts?
No. You must give buyers the Property Transfer Lead Paint Notification and any lead reports; the buyer must delead within 90 days if a child under 6 will live there.
How long does a buyer have to do a lead inspection in Massachusetts?
Buyers have a 10-day statutory right to inspect for lead.
Is there a tax credit for lead paint removal in Massachusetts?
Yes, up to $3,000 per unit for full deleading or up to $1,000 for interim control.
What is the Massachusetts Lead Law?
It requires homes built before 1978 where a child under 6 lives to be deleaded or brought under interim control, and it applies to both owners and landlords.
What's a Letter of Compliance?
It's the document a licensed lead inspector issues when a home meets Lead Law standards. Sellers must pass any they have to buyers.
Related guides: Mold · Asbestos · Radon · Termites & pests · Foundation problems · Roof replacement · all house problem guides
Sources
Checked September 2026: mass.gov · mass.gov · mass.gov · masshousing.com · mass.gov · mass.gov · angi.com · angi.com · nolo.com
General information, not legal, tax, medical or engineering advice. Rules and prices change; confirm with the agency or a licensed professional.