Compliance and Enforcement News Release (Region 1): Two Real Estate Firms Fined for Lead Paint Disclosure Violations in Four New England States

News Release
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
New England Regional Office
June 18, 2009

Contact Information: Paula Ballentine, (617) 918-1027

Two Real Estate Firms Fined for Lead Paint Disclosure Violations in Four New England States

(Boston, Mass. – June 18, 2009) – The corporate owners of numerous Coldwell Banker real estate brokerage offices in southern Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island will pay $66,700 for violations of lead paint disclosure rules.

The two real estate corporations are NRT New England LLC and Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services, Inc., both doing business as Coldwell Banker Real Estate Brokerage.

EPA inspections and review of submitted information indicated that Coldwell Banker Real Estate Brokerage offices in North Haven and Fairfield, Conn.; Lincoln and Somerville, Mass.; Dover and Manchester, N.H.; and East Providence, R.I. together allegedly committed numerous violations of the Lead Disclosure Rule during multiple real estate transactions between 2005 and 2007. The companies have since certified that they are currently in full compliance with the Disclosure Rule.

Federal law requires that landlords and property owners or their agents disclose to prospective tenants or purchasers about the potential for lead paint hazards in residential properties built before 1978. Disclosure of potential lead hazards in housing to prospective tenants helps parents protect young children from lead poisoning.

Infants and young children are especially vulnerable to lead paint hazards, which can cause harmful effects to intelligence, reading and learning disabilities, impaired hearing, reduced attention span, hyperactivity and behavior problems. Women of child-bearing age with high lead levels can suffer difficulties during pregnancy. Adults with high levels of lead can experience high blood pressure, nerve disorders, memory problems and muscle and joint pain.

More information:

-Lead paint health hazards (epa.gov/ne/eco/ne_lead/index.html)

-Lead-based paint disclosure rule (epa.gov/ne/enforcement/leadpaint/index.html)
 
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