Three Property Managers Settle Lead Paint Law Violations

WASHINGTON, DC-Three DC residential property management firms have agreed to pay $75,000 in fines and $563,000 to abate lead-paint hazards in about 5,700 units in 162 buildings. The Department of Justice, Housing and Urban Development and the Environmental Protection Agency secured the agreements with Borger Management, William Calomiris Investment and American Rental Management over violations of federal laws concerning lead paint.

The agreements, filed in U.S. District Court in here also require Borger to pay a $25,000 penalty and Calomiris to pay a $5,000 penalty. Calomiris also will commit $10,000 to support community-based projects to reduce the incidence of childhood lead poisoning in the District of Columbia.

Violations of lead paint disclosure laws persist. Last year, HUD and Justice announced several civil lawsuits that yielded abatement payments of more than $1 million and $259,000 in fines. HUD also carried out 45 administrative enforcement actions in 20 cities last year.

“We suspect that there’s widespread noncompliance with these laws, which require property owners to give notice to residents about lead paint,” said Christine Romano, Department of Justice spokeswoman, talking about the new agreements. Currently, the Department of Justice is in negotiations with eight property management companies in Los Angeles and Chicago on this issue, Romano.

HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo said, “This should send a clear signal to landlords that HUD takes the health of children very seriously. Every family deserves to live in a home that is safe from the threat of lead.”