Eight Maine Real Estate Firms Face Fines for Lead Paint Disclosure Violations

[Nick Gromicko]

News Release
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
New England Regional Office
September 30, 2009

Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

Eight Maine Real Estate Firms Face Fines for Lead Paint Disclosure Violations

(Boston, Mass. – Sept. 30, 2009) – Eight real estate developers and management firms doing business in Lewiston, Maine face penalties for violations of federal lead paint disclosure rules. PropSys Management Company faces a potential fine of up to $154,400. The seven related companies listed below face a combined penalty of up to $561,000.

- Landmark Real Estate Management, Inc.;
- Solo Affordable Housing Solutions, LLC;
- Solo Development 2004, LLC;
- Minbar Properties, LLC;
- 87 Bartlett Street Associates, LLC;
- LA Italian Properties, LLC;
- Travis Soule dba Fish Properties.

EPA issued complaints against these companies, alleging violations of federal lead paint disclosure regulations. EPA inspections of these companies indicated that, on multiple occasions, they failed to provide prospective tenants with lead paint disclosure information. Federal law requires that landlords and property owners or their agents disclose to prospective tenants or purchasers the potential for lead paint hazards in residential properties built before 1978.

“Disclosing potential lead hazards in housing to prospective tenants helps parents protect young children from lead poisoning,” said Ira Leighton, acting regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “Exposure to lead paint continues to be a problem in New England, because so much of our housing stock was built earlier than 1978. Helping parents understand the risk of lead in older homes means protecting kids from lifelong harm.”

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.