RESIDENT HANDBOOK Thank you for selecting Ivy Garden Apartments as your new home! We are very pleased you will be living with us. We hope that the information provided here will be helpful to you. Please remember the policies contained in the Handbook are part of your Lease Agreement and should be reviewed carefully. We sincerely hope that your stay at Ivy Garden will be pleasant and enjoyable! TABLE OF CONTENTS HOURS OF OPERATION EMERGENCIES/ EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

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POLICIES AND REGULATIONS RENTAL PAYMENT INFORMATION UTILITIES INSURANCE KEYS AND LOCKS VEHICLE REGISTRATION/PARKING/DRIVING SPEED PETS GUESTS NOISE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WATERBEDS TRASH LAUNDRY FACILITIES BICYCLE STORAGE BALCONIES AND PATIOS ENTRANCEWAYS AND STAIRWELLS STOVES/HEATERS/GRILLS WINDOW COVERINGS EXTERIOR APPURTENANCES INSTALLATIONS MOVE OUT REQUESTS FOR SERVICE/MAINTENANCE EMERGENCIES SWIMMING POOL RULES AND REGULATIONS

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USE AND CARE OF FIXTURES AND APPLICANCES HEATING AND COOLING FIREPLACES CARE OF FIXTURES AND FLOORS REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER RANGE AND OVEN DISPOSAL DISHWASHER

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LEAD BASED PAINT PAMPHLET

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OFFICE CONTACT INFORMATION Ivy Garden Apartments 100 Ivy Drive Charlottesville, VA 22903 Phone: 434-220-6650 Email: [email protected] www.ivygarden.com EHO HOURS OF OPERATION Monday – Friday

9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Saturday

10:00 am – 4:00 pm (Subject to Change)

Sunday

Closed

Our office does close to observe specific holidays during the year such as, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving (and the day after), Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Please contact our office in advance of any major holiday to assure the office will be open. Emergency Maintenance service is always available. EMERGENCIES In the event of an emergency, please get help immediately and we have listed telephone numbers below for your reference. After the crisis has passed notify Management as soon as possible. This is necessary both from the standpoint of liability and of the Management’s ability to offer assistance. EMERCENCY PHONE NUMBERS FIRE Charlottesville/Albemarle Fire Department………………………………………. 911 RESCUE SQUAD Charlottesville/Albemarle Rescue Squad…………………………………………. 911 POLICE Albemarle County Police Department…………………………………………….. 911 IVY GARDEN Office and after hours emergency service………………………………………… 434-220-6650

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POLICIES AND REGULATIONS RENTAL PAYMENT INFORMATION Rental payments should be made by check payable to IVY GARDEN and delivered to the Office ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH AND NO LATER THAN THE FIFTH. Payments can be made through Paylease.com. Residents should put their building and unit numbers on their rent checks and also indicate on payments through Paylease. After hours, rental checks may be deposited in the Night Deposit Box located on the front door of the office. A LATE CHARGE OF $50.00 will be enforced for unpaid rents after the fifth of the month. Payments returned by your bank for any reason will incur a $35.00 RETURNED CHECK CHARGE PLUS A $50.00 LATE CHARGE. All checks must be in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank. FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES, ONLY ONE PAYMENT PER APARTMENT IS PERMITTED FOR MONTHLY RENT PAYMENTS. UTILITY INFORMATION ELECTRICITY The electricity should be connected in the resident’s name on the lease start date. It is recommended that you contact Dominion Virginia Power at least two weeks prior to the beginning of your lease agreement to schedule this set up. The contact information is listed below. DOMINION VIRGINIA POWER P.O. Box 26666 Richmond, VA 23261 1-888-667-3000 WWW.DOM.COM INTERNET/CABLE Arrangements can be made prior to the lease start date to connect your cable service and internet by contacting Access Media 3 listed below. ACCESS MEDIA 3 900 Commerce Drive Oak Brook, IL 60523 1-866-263-3241 WWW.AM3INC.COM WATER/SEWER Our office will put the Water/Sewer into your name as of your lease begin date. You do not need to contact Midway Services to arrange this. Your first water bill will be mailed to your apartment, so please make sure you check your mailbox. Please be aware that your first bill might not come for up to 30 days after you move in. The contact information is listed below. MIDWAY SERVICES 1-888-696-3837 WWW.MSIUBD.COM

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RENTER’S INSURANCE Please obtain a renter’s insurance policy for your personal property and liability insurance. Management will not be liable for any loss whatsoever to the contents or personal effects of the resident or the resident’s guests on or about the premises, nor for damage or injury to the resident or the resident’s guests unless such loss, damage or injury is caused by the Management’s gross negligence. KEYS AND LOCKS Management will not issue a key to any non-resident (parent, relative, friend, delivery person, etc.) without written authorization from the resident. Residents who lock themselves out may present a photo ID to temporarily sign out a key at the office during regular office hours. After office hours, residents will need to call a locksmith. No resident shall alter any lock or install a new lock on any door leading into a unit. Any additional locks, chains, or other safety devices may only be added by the resident with permission of Management. In addition, installation must be performed by or under the supervision of the Ivy Garden Maintenance staff. The Management retains a key to each unit. Security systems can only be installed at the resident’s sole cost, and the disable code must be provided to the Management office and updated with the office staff anytime the code is changed. VEHICLE REGISTRATION/PARKING/DRIVING SPEED Residents are required to register their vehicles in the office and display parking permits on the rear window of their vehicle. Guest parking permits are required during office hours for Residents who have guests visiting during weekday office hours. A guest parking permit is available at the office. Friends of Residents, who do not live at Ivy Garden may not park in our parking lot and go to school. Towing is strictly enforced during office hours. Ivy Garden Management requests that Residents living in buildings 101-127 and 102-122 do not park in the area of buildings 124-148 during the school day to go to class. There are a limited number of parking spaces in the upper area that are provided for the Residents living in that area only. Residents are asked to park next to the building they live in. VEHICLES MUST BE PARKED IN MARKED SPACES. Parking or driving on grassy areas throughout the community is subject to a fine and any replacement costs for damages. Motorcycles and mopeds must be parked in a regular parking space (not stored on patios, in entranceways, etc.) Building entranceways must be kept clear. Vehicles in non-operating condition may NOT be kept on the premises. Commercial vehicles, boats, trailers, campers may NOT be parked in the lots or on common property except for loading and/or unloading. The MAXIMUM speed limit at Ivy Garden is 20 miles per hour. Vehicles in violation of the above rules are subject to towing without notification at the owner’s expense.

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PETS The Management of Ivy Garden does NOT allow residents or their guests to have pets on or about the premises. The NO-PETS-ALLOWED covenant in the lease is strictly enforced. The decision not to allow pets at Ivy Garden was made for the ultimate comfort and convenience of the residents and with the acknowledgement that pets are important to many individuals. A resident found harboring a pet will be given 24 hours to remove the pet from the premises. Inspections will be made by Management to insure the pet has been permanently removed. Failure to do so could cause the Management to ask that the resident vacate his/her unit. In addition charges for applicable flea extermination will be assessed. SOLICITORS Ivy Garden does not permit solicitors on the premises. Solicitors should be reported to Management and the Albemarle County Police Department immediately so that any inconvenience to residents can be minimized. Remember, Ivy Garden is private property, so report anything suspicious immediately. GUESTS Residents are fully responsible for the behavior and conduct of their guests. NOISE Courtesy and consideration for the rights of one’s neighbors is expected of all residents at Ivy Garden. It is further expected that the sounds of all stereos, televisions, pianos, exercise equipment and conversations – both inside and outside the units – will be limited to take into consideration ALL residents. Speakers, bass, and any subwoofers should be placed off the floor and the volume kept low. In the event of a noisy party or other disturbance, please call the Albemarle County Police NonEmergency Police Service at 434-977-9041. Then please notify the Ivy Garden office staff so notification can be sent to the disturbance address. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES Alcoholic Beverages and their use must be confined to resident’s units, balconies or patios. No alcohol is permitted in the Clubhouses. WATERBEDS Waterbeds are NOT allowed on the property. TRASH All garbage and other disposable items must be placed in the dumpsters that are strategically located throughout the community. Items which are too large or too bulky to fit through the doors of the dumpster must be reduced in size and bulk to not obstruct use of the dumpster by other residents. In no event is refuse to be left outside the dumpster nor is it to be left in hallways, stairs, landings, laundry rooms or other public areas.

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Ashes from fireplaces and grills should be put into a metal container and left to cool on the balcony or patio for 48 hours before being placed into a dumpster. Ashes are not to be emptied on the patio, balcony, or the lawn. LAUNDRY FACILITIES There are six laundry rooms conveniently located throughout Ivy Garden: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

First floor of building 107. First floor of building 125. Below the Ivy Garden office. Adjacent to building 120. Adjacent to building 134. Adjacent to building 146.

The machines are for residents use only. Trespassers should be reported to the Office. The washers and dryers are to be left clean and please remove the lint from dryer lint catchers after each use. Trash receptacles and folding tables are provided for your convenience. Machines malfunctions should be reported to COIN-MACH at 877-264-6622. No refunds are made through the office. BICYCLE STORAGE Bicycles may not be chained to lamp posts, trees or stair railings at the buildings. There are several bike racks located on the property where they can be stored if not stored inside of the resident’s apartment. BALCONIES, PATIOS AND STORAGE Balconies should be kept neat and orderly at all times. BALCONIES AND THEIR RAILINGS ARE NOT TO BE USED FOR DRYING CLOTHING OR ACCESSORIES. They are not to be used as storage areas. Boxes, etc. should be kept inside resident’s units when not in use. Residents will be asked to remove these and other unsightly items from balconies and patios. It is expected that firewood will be neatly stacked and stored on resident’s private patios or balconies in a manner so as not to block exits or detract from the general appearance of Ivy Garden. Items should not be stored in heating/air conditioning closets as this blocks the flow of air and increases your electricity bill. Management assumes no responsibility for items stored in these closets. ENTRANCEWAYS AND STAIRWELLS Both County and State Fire Codes prohibit the placing of trash, boxes, bicycles, toys, grills, etc. in the hallways or on the steps of the buildings. All residents must observe these rules and be aware that Ivy Garden may remove any such items without notice and will not be responsible for them.

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STOVES/HEATERS/GRILLS Wood and/or kerosene stoves and heaters are NOT allowed on the premises. Barbecue grills can be used 10 feet from the building ONLY and NOT IN ENTRANCEWAYS. NO GAS GRILLS ARE ALLOWED. Ashes from fireplaces and grills should be put into a metal container and left to cool on the balcony or patio for 48 hours before being placed into a dumpster. Ashes are not to be emptied on the patio, balcony, or the lawn. WINDOW COVERINGS Vertical blinds for sliding glass doors and mini-blinds for all other windows are provided. Should residents desire to install additional draperies, the linings or any parts or the draperies which would be visible from the exterior must be white. In such cases, the resident is responsible to re hang blinds owned by Ivy Garden upon vacating. Any rods or hangers installed by the resident must be removed prior to the resident vacating the unit. EXTERIOR APPURTENANCES Signs, posters, plastic covering, etc. are not allowed to be displayed in or on windows, doors, balconies, or in the public areas. INSTALLATIONS Nail picture hangers and ceiling holders (within reason) are acceptable installations. Stick-on type posters on wall surfaces, non-slip adhesive stickers on tub and shower units, and paste-ups on exterior doors are NOT permitted and will be charged as damage upon move-out. Standard picture hooks are recommended when hanging any pictures, decorative objects, etc. on the walls. These hangers tend to prevent excessive damage. Any excessive damage to the walls would be charged to the resident. MOVE OUT INFORMATION All leases expire at 10:00 am. Residents are responsible for turning in all keys for the apartment and providing your forwarding address to the management office. If keys are mailed or left in the drop box, they must be able to be identified by apartment number to avoid lock change charges. Security Deposits, less any charges are returned BY MAIL ONLY within forty-five days of the lease expiration. Electricity and water services must be left on in the Resident’s name for five business days after the lease ends. If you wish to be present at the time of inspection, the office must receive a written request or phone call (10) days prior to move-out in order to schedule the inspection. REQUESTS FOR SERVICE/MAINTENANCE EMERGENCIES All service requests should be made to the Management during office hours. In case of an EMERGENCY, an on-call emergency Maintenance staff member should be contacted at 434220-6650. Please be certain that after-hours calls are of an emergency nature. In the event of a lockout when the office is closed, you will need to call a locksmith service. The Ivy Garden

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Maintenance staff is on-call for EMERGENCIES only and will not provide keys to Residents after hours. What constitutes as a maintenance emergency: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

Toilet not working in a one bathroom apartment. Water leaking through ceiling. Water leaks other than small drips from a faucet. Broken drain lines when you are not able to shut off the water to stop the leak. Refrigerator failing to cool or freeze. No heat when outside temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Air conditioner not cooling or blowing at all (if outside temperature is above 80 degrees Fahrenheit). Air conditioner leaking. Fire alarm or smoke detector malfunction. Broken locks on any exterior door or window. Broken windows. Building lights if entire circuit is affected. Electrical failures, circuit breakers not resetting. Smell of smoke or burning plastic. Any condition that can threaten the health or well-being of resident or can cause damage to the property.

NON-Emergency. Please call 434-220-6650 and press “1” to leave a message to be handled the next business day: 1. Clogging or stoppage affecting only one toilet when a second toilet is available for use in your apartment. 2. Water leakage from a faucet, sink, or toilet where cutoff valves are accessible and can be used to cut off water supply. 3. Water leakage from a drain line occurring only AFTER a faucet, sink, or toilet is used and further leakage could be prevented by not using the faucet, sink, or toilet. 4. Hot water supply or temperature is temporarily inadequate. 5. Continuous flow of water through the toilet tank. 6. No hot water at all (NOT just temporarily inadequate). Note: There are showers available in the Clubhouse by Building 103 that can be used by residents that temporarily do not have hot water. 7. No electricity in an individual socket or outlet in separate rooms. 8. One inoperative electrical circuit (unless it controls either the refrigerator or heater). 9. No air conditioning. SWIMMING POOL RULES AND REGULATIONS There are two pools available on the property, one is located next to Building 103 and one is located next to Building 148. We typically open the pools in May through September, weather permitting. Pool Hours: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM THERE IS NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY. SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK.

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Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult who will assume the responsibility for their safety. Running, horseplay or excessive noise within the pool area is not permitted. No alcoholic beverages or glass containers are allowed. No potentially dangerous toys, objects or large rafts will be allowed in the pool. Swimmers are to clear the pool area in the event of an electrical storm. Anyone who violates pool regulations or who acts inappropriately at the pool may lose pool privileges. Regulations are not limited to those listed above, those posted at the pool or those on the pool passes. Management reserves the right to enforce new rules if found necessary. CLUBHOUSE The clubhouse is provided for your use and enjoyment. Please contact our office for further details about the clubhouse. The entire building is a SMOKE FREE and ALCOHOL FREE facility. Anyone found smoking or consuming alcohol while inside the premises will lose his/her privilege to use the facility. Please note that you are responsible for your actions and the actions of your guests whenever you are using the facility. Any damages caused by you or your guests (whether known to you or not) will be billed back to your rental account. From time to time the clubhouse may be rented for private functions during which time it will be closed. Please stop by or contact the office should you wish to rent the clubhouse for private events. Please be mindful of other people when using the TV or stereo equipment as to not unreasonably disturb other guests. USE THIS FACILITY AT YOUR OWN RISK. USE AND CARE OF FIXTURES AND APPLICANCES HEATING AND COOLING In units 101-127 and 102-122 your heating and cooling unit is an electric forced air system. In units 124-148 your heating and cooling unit is a heat pump system. With both systems the compressor is located outside. The interior components are located in the utility closets of each unit. Routine inspection, filter changes, and maintenance are taken care of by our maintenance staff. Any problems with your unit should be reported to the office. We have listed some helpful information about your Heating/Cooling: 1. The system can be set at either “HEAT” or “COOL.” 2. When the thermostat is set at a desired temperature, the system will either heat or cool sufficiently so as to achieve that temperature. 3. The Fan Switch may either be set at “AUTO” or “ON.” On “AUTO” the fan will cycle on and off as the system operates to sustain the desired temperature setting. When the Fan Switch is set to “ON” the blower will operate continuously whether or not the heating/cooling system is in operation.

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4. To reduce the operation of the system to a minimum for a period of time, just set the temperature selector to 60 degrees in the winter when the system is on “HEAT” or to 80 degrees in the summer when the system is on “COOL.” This way the unit and all of your furnishings are protected from extreme weather conditions. 5. To turn the system off completely set the “HEATING/COOLING” switch to the “OFF” position and the Fan Switch to the “AUTO” position. Items should not be stored in the heating/air conditioning closets as this blocks the flow of air and increases your electricity bill. Management assumes no responsibility for the items stored in these closets. DURING COLD MONTHS NEVER TURN THE SYSTEM COMPLETELY OFF. Keep the system at a minimum of 60 degrees due to the possibility of the water pipes freezing. If the water pipes freeze because there is no heat in the apartment the resident will be liable for any and all resulting damages. FIREPLACES Safety is the most important aspect for consideration when using the fireplace. Please BE CERTAIN: 1. Only burn hard seasoned wood (like oak or hickory) in order to prevent dangerous creosote building up in the chimney. DO NOT use pine or other “soft” woods. 2. Damper is open when the fireplace is in use. Even with warm coals the damper must remain open so that potentially toxic fumes can escape up the chimney. 3. Damper is closed when fireplace is not in use in order to prevent loss of heat from the living areas. 4. Fires are built no larger than the fireplace will safely contain. 5. The screen is closed at all times. Popping embers can easily damage the carpeting or start a fire in the apartment. NEVER HAVE A FIRE WITHOUT A FIRESCREEN! 6. The fire IS COMPLETELY EXTINGUISHED BEFORE LEAVING YOUR UNIT. 7. When ashes are removed they should be placed in a metal container and left to cool on the balcony or patio for at least 48 hours before disposal into the dumpster. 8. Acquiring a fire extinguisher is highly recommended. CARE OF FIXTURES AND FLOORS The fixtures in the kitchens and bathrooms at Ivy Garden are made of fiberglass and acrylic materials and should never be cleaned with harsh or abrasive cleaners. Tubs and shower units are fiberglass; bathroom sinks and countertops are acrylic; kitchen sinks are stainless steel and bathroom and kitchen floors are in-laid, no-wax vinyl. Use only spray-on or soft scrub cleansers on these surfaces. NEVER use steel wool soap pads or abrasive cleansers on these surfaces. ONLY mild soap and water or specialty no-wax floor products should be used on the vinyl floors. REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER Frost-Free Refrigerators have been provided in all units so there should be no need for heavy cleaning or defrosting. It is suggested that you wipe up all spills promptly and occasionally wash the interior walls and shelves with a mild solution of baking soda and water to eliminate any odor. The outside porcelain finish requires mild soap and water or appliance cleaner to keep it looking nice. Additionally the drip pan beneath the refrigerator should be emptied and washed

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periodically. Residents should keep the drainage plug cleaned under the refrigerator crispers if applicable. If a service call is made and a clogged drain is found, the resident will be held responsible for any damages. Use a vacuum cleaner to keep the bottom grill and the space behind it free of lint and dust. This will help keep the free flow of air to the motor components and help the refrigerator to operate efficiently. RANGE AND OVEN Each unit has been equipped with an electric range and self-cleaning oven. Mild cleaning of all exterior porcelain surfaces is recommended. Never use harsh cleansers or steel-wool pads (use only nylon or plastic scrubbers) on the range surface, electric eyes and control panel. Soapy steelwool pads are all right to clean stubborn stains on the oven racks on the inside of the oven and on reflector pans on top of the stove. The self-cleaning aspect of the oven is designed to enable you to keep your oven clean at all times. Please keep in mind the self cleaning option can take a few hours to complete, so plan ahead when using it. Spills from casseroles, pies, etc. must be wiped up as they occur. DISPOSAL Continuous-Feed Disposals have been installed in each kitchen sink. Proper use calls for cold running water to be used to flush away the debris while the disposal is on. NEVER use your hands to feed items into the disposal. For correct operation of the disposal turn on the cold water at full force, flip the switch on and feed the debris slowly and continuously into the unit. Allow the water to run for a few seconds after the unit sounds empty and then turn off the switch. DO NOT PUT silverware, grease, hard seeds or pits, rice, plastic, bones, or other unreasonable matter in the garbage disposal. Service calls where trouble is found to be a result of these items will result in charges to the resident for repairs required. DISHWASHER The exterior of the dishwasher should only be cleaned with mild soap and water or an appliance cleaner. The interior surfaces will automatically be taken care of through continuous use. USE ONLY AUTOMATIC DISHWASHING DETERGENT. NEVER USE ANY OTHER SOAP OR DETERGENT IN YOUR DISHWASHER. To save electricity and water, the dishwasher should be operated only when it is full. For best washing results, wash water must be able to reach soiled surfaces of each dish and utensil. Therefore, load dishes to face the source of the water and load deep items face down. Glasses, small items such as cups and saucers, long handled utensils and dishwasher-safe plastic items should be loaded in the upper rack of the dishwasher. Silverware should be loaded in the basket with the handles pointing up. Use your own good judgment when items are labeled as “dishwasher safe” if they truly are. Antique or hand painted china, fragile crystal, pewter ware, iron cooking pans and skillets, wooden items, some plastic items and colored anodized aluminum items should be washed by hand rather than in the automatic dishwasher. It is normal for a small amount of water to stand in the sump at the bottom of the tub at the end of the cycle. This water is clean and keeps the pump primed and the water seal moistened.

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Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home United States Environmental Protection Agency

United States Consumer Product Safety Commission

United States Department of Housing and Urban Development SeptSeptember 2013

Are You Planning to Buy or Rent a Home Built Before 1978? Did you know that many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint? Lead from paint, chips, and dust can pose serious health hazards. Read this entire brochure to learn: • • • •

How lead gets into the body About health effects of lead What you can do to protect your family Where to go for more information

Before renting or buying a pre-1978 home or apartment, federal law requires: • Sellers must disclose known information on lead-based paint or leadbased paint hazards before selling a house. • Real estate sales contracts must include a specific warning statement about lead-based paint. Buyers have up to 10 days to check for lead. • Landlords must disclose known information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before leases take effect. Leases must include a specific warning statement about lead-based paint. If undertaking renovations, repairs, or painting (RRP) projects in your pre-1978 home or apartment: • Read EPA’s pamphlet, The Lead-Safe Certified Guide to Renovate Right, to learn about the lead-safe work practices that contractors are required to follow when working in your home (see page 12).

Simple Steps to Protect Your Family from Lead Hazards If you think your home has lead-based paint: • Don’t try to remove lead-based paint yourself. • Always keep painted surfaces in good condition to minimize deterioration. • Get your home checked for lead hazards. Find a certified inspector or risk assessor at epa.gov/lead. • Talk to your landlord about fixing surfaces with peeling or chipping paint. • Regularly clean floors, window sills, and other surfaces. • Take precautions to avoid exposure to lead dust when remodeling. • When renovating, repairing, or painting, hire only EPA- or stateapproved Lead-Safe certified renovation firms. • Before buying, renting, or renovating your home, have it checked for lead-based paint. • Consult your health care provider about testing your children for lead. Your pediatrician can check for lead with a simple blood test. • Wash children’s hands, bottles, pacifiers, and toys often. • Make sure children avoid fatty (or high fat) foods and eat nutritious meals high in iron and calcium. • Remove shoes or wipe soil off shoes before entering your house.

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Lead Gets into the Body in Many Ways Adults and children can get lead into their bodies if they: • Breathe in lead dust (especially during activities such as renovations, repairs, or painting that disturb painted surfaces). • Swallow lead dust that has settled on food, food preparation surfaces, and other places. • Eat paint chips or soil that contains lead. Lead is especially dangerous to children under the age of 6. • At this age, children’s brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. • Children’s growing bodies absorb more lead. • Babies and young children often put their hands and other objects in their mouths. These objects can have lead dust on them. Women of childbearing age should know that lead is dangerous to a developing fetus. • Women with a high lead level in their system before or during pregnancy risk exposing the fetus to lead through the placenta during fetal development.

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Health Effects of Lead Lead affects the body in many ways. It is important to know that even exposure to low levels of lead can severely harm children. In children, exposure to lead can cause: • Nervous system and kidney damage • Learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, and decreased intelligence • Speech, language, and behavior problems • Poor muscle coordination • Decreased muscle and bone growth • Hearing damage While low-lead exposure is most common, exposure to high amounts of lead can have devastating effects on children, including seizures, unconsciousness, and, in some cases, death. Although children are especially susceptible to lead exposure, lead can be dangerous for adults, too. In adults, exposure to lead can cause: • Harm to a developing fetus • Increased chance of high blood pressure during pregnancy • Fertility problems (in men and women) • High blood pressure • Digestive problems • Nerve disorders • Memory and concentration problems 3

• Muscle and joint pain

Check Your Family for Lead Get your children and home tested if you think your home has lead. Children’s blood lead levels tend to increase rapidly from 6 to 12 months of age, and tend to peak at 18 to 24 months of age. Consult your doctor for advice on testing your children. A simple blood test can detect lead. Blood lead tests are usually recommended for: • Children at ages 1 and 2 • Children or other family members who have been exposed to high levels of lead • Children who should be tested under your state or local health screening plan Your doctor can explain what the test results mean and if more testing will be needed.

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Where Lead-Based Paint Is Found In general, the older your home or childcare facility, the more likely it has lead-based paint.1 Many homes, including private, federally-assisted, federallyowned housing, and childcare facilities built before 1978 have lead-based paint. In 1978, the federal government banned consumer uses of lead-containing paint.2 Learn how to determine if paint is lead-based paint on page 7. Lead can be found: • In homes and childcare facilities in the city, country, or suburbs, • In private and public single-family homes and apartments, • On surfaces inside and outside of the house, and • In soil around a home. (Soil can pick up lead from exterior paint or other sources, such as past use of leaded gas in cars.) Learn more about where lead is found at epa.gov/lead.

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“Lead-based paint” is currently defined by the federal government as paint with lead levels greater than or equal to 1.0 milligram per square centimeter (mg/cm), or more than 0.5% by weight.

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“Lead-containing paint” is currently defined by the federal government as lead in new dried paint in excess of 90 parts per million (ppm) by weight.

Identifying Lead-Based Paint and Lead-Based Paint Hazards Deteriorating lead-based paint (peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking, or damaged paint) is a hazard and needs immediate attention. Lead-based paint may also be a hazard when found on surfaces that children can chew or that get a lot of wear and tear, such as: • On windows and window sills • Doors and door frames • Stairs, railings, banisters, and porches Lead-based paint is usually not a hazard if it is in good condition and if it is not on an impact or friction surface like a window. Lead dust can form when lead-based paint is scraped, sanded, or heated. Lead dust also forms when painted surfaces containing lead bump or rub together. Lead paint chips and dust can get on surfaces and objects that people touch. Settled lead dust can reenter the air when the home is vacuumed or swept, or when people walk through it. EPA currently defines the following levels of lead in dust as hazardous: • 40 micrograms per square foot (μg/ft2) and higher for floors, including carpeted floors • 250 μg/ft2 and higher for interior window sills Lead in soil can be a hazard when children play in bare soil or when people bring soil into the house on their shoes. EPA currently defines the following levels of lead in soil as hazardous: • 400 parts per million (ppm) and higher in play areas of bare soil • 1,200 ppm (average) and higher in bare soil in the remainder of the yard Remember, lead from paint chips—which you can see—and lead dust—which you may not be able to see—both can be hazards. The only way to find out if paint, dust, or soil lead hazards exist is to test for them. The next page describes how to do this.

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Checking Your Home for Lead You can get your home tested for lead in several different ways: • A lead-based paint inspection tells you if your home has leadbased paint and where it is located. It won’t tell you whether your home currently has lead hazards. A trained and certified testing professional, called a lead-based paint inspector, will conduct a paint inspection using methods, such as: • Portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) machine • Lab tests of paint samples • A risk assessment tells you if your home currently has any lead hazards from lead in paint, dust, or soil. It also tells you what actions to take to address any hazards. A trained and certified testing professional, called a risk assessor, will: • Sample paint that is deteriorated on doors, windows, floors, stairs, and walls • Sample dust near painted surfaces and sample bare soil in the yard • Get lab tests of paint, dust, and soil samples • A combination inspection and risk assessment tells you if your home has any lead-based paint and if your home has any lead hazards, and where both are located. Be sure to read the report provided to you after your inspection or risk assessment is completed, and ask questions about anything you do not understand.

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Checking Your Home for Lead, continued In preparing for renovation, repair, or painting work in a pre-1978 home, Lead-Safe Certified renovators (see page 12) may: • Take paint chip samples to determine if lead-based paint is present in the area planned for renovation and send them to an EPA-recognized lead lab for analysis. In housing receiving federal assistance, the person collecting these samples must be a certified lead-based paint inspector or risk assessor • Use EPA-recognized tests kits to determine if lead-based paint is absent (but not in housing receiving federal assistance) • Presume that lead-based paint is present and use lead-safe work practices There are state and federal programs in place to ensure that testing is done safely, reliably, and effectively. Contact your state or local agency for more information, visit epa.gov/lead, or call 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) for a list of contacts in your area.3

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Hearing- or speech-challenged individuals may access this number through TTY by calling the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8399.

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What You Can Do Now to Protect Your Family If you suspect that your house has lead-based paint hazards, you can take some immediate steps to reduce your family’s risk: • If you rent, notify your landlord of peeling or chipping paint. • Keep painted surfaces clean and free of dust. Clean floors, window frames, window sills, and other surfaces weekly. Use a mop or sponge with warm water and a general all-purpose cleaner. (Remember: never mix ammonia and bleach products together because they can form a dangerous gas.) • Carefully clean up paint chips immediately without creating dust. • Thoroughly rinse sponges and mop heads often during cleaning of dirty or dusty areas, and again afterward. • Wash your hands and your children’s hands often, especially before they eat and before nap time and bed time. • Keep play areas clean. Wash bottles, pacifiers, toys, and stuffed animals regularly. • Keep children from chewing window sills or other painted surfaces, or eating soil. • When renovating, repairing, or painting, hire only EPA- or stateapproved Lead-Safe Certified renovation firms (see page 12). • Clean or remove shoes before entering your home to avoid tracking in lead from soil. • Make sure children avoid fatty (or high fat) foods and eat nutritious meals high in iron and calcium. Children with good diets absorb less lead.

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Reducing Lead Hazards Disturbing lead-based paint or removing lead improperly can increase the hazard to your family by spreading even more lead dust around the house. • In addition to day-to-day cleaning and good nutrition, you can temporarily reduce lead-based paint hazards by taking actions, such as repairing damaged painted surfaces and planting grass to cover leadcontaminated soil. These actions are not permanent solutions and will need ongoing attention. • You can minimize exposure to lead when renovating, repairing, or painting by hiring an EPA- or statecertified renovator who is trained in the use of lead-safe work practices. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, learn how to use lead–safe work practices in your home. • To remove lead hazards permanently, you should hire a certified lead abatement contractor. Abatement (or permanent hazard elimination) methods include removing, sealing, or enclosing lead-based paint with special materials. Just painting over the hazard with regular paint is not permanent control. Always use a certified contractor who is trained to address lead hazards safely. • Hire a Lead-Safe Certified firm (see page 12) to perform renovation, repair, or painting (RRP) projects that disturb painted surfaces. • To correct lead hazards permanently, hire a certified lead abatement professional. This will ensure your contractor knows how to work safely and has the proper equipment to clean up thoroughly. Certified contractors will employ qualified workers and follow strict safety rules as set by their state or by the federal government. 10

Reducing Lead Hazards, continued If your home has had lead abatement work done or if the housing is receiving federal assistance, once the work is completed, dust cleanup activities must be conducted until clearance testing indicates that lead dust levels are below the following levels: • 40 micrograms per square foot (μg/ft2) for floors, including carpeted floors • 250 μg/ft2 for interior windows sills • 400 μg/ft2 for window troughs For help in locating certified lead abatement professionals in your area, call your state or local agency (see pages 14 and 15), or visit epa.gov/lead, or call 1-800-424-LEAD.

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Renovating, Remodeling, or Repairing (RRP) a Home with Lead-Based Paint If you hire a contractor to conduct renovation, repair, or painting (RRP) projects in your pre-1978 home or childcare facility (such as pre-school and kindergarten), your contractor must: • Be a Lead-Safe Certified firm approved by EPA or an EPA-authorized state program • Use qualified trained individuals (Lead-Safe Certified renovators) who follow specific lead-safe work practices to prevent lead contamination • Provide a copy of EPA’s lead hazard information document, The Lead-Safe Certified Guide to Renovate Right RRP contractors working in pre-1978 homes and childcare facilities must follow lead-safe work practices that: • Contain the work area. The area must be contained so that dust and debris do not escape from the work area. Warning signs must be put up, and plastic or other impermeable material and tape must be used. • Avoid renovation methods that generate large amounts of lead-contaminated dust. Some methods generate so much leadcontaminated dust that their use is prohibited. They are: • Open-flame burning or torching • Sanding, grinding, planing, needle gunning, or blasting with power tools and equipment not equipped with a shroud and HEPA vacuum attachment and • Using a heat gun at temperatures greater than 1100°F • Clean up thoroughly. The work area should be cleaned up daily. When all the work is done, the area must be cleaned up using special cleaning methods. • Dispose of waste properly. Collect and seal waste in a heavy duty bag or sheeting. When transported, ensure that waste is contained to prevent release of dust and debris. To learn more about EPA’s requirements for RRP projects visit epa.gov/getleadsafe, or read The Lead-Safe Certified Guide to Renovate Right.

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Other Sources of Lead While paint, dust, and soil are the most common sources of lead, other lead sources also exist: • Drinking water. Your home might have plumbing with lead or lead solder. You cannot see, smell, or taste lead, and boiling your water will not get rid of lead. If you think your plumbing might contain lead: • Use only cold water for drinking and cooking. • Run water for 15 to 30 seconds before drinking it, especially if you have not used your water for a few hours. Call your local health department or water supplier to find out about testing your water, or visit epa.gov/lead for EPA’s lead in drinking water information. • Lead smelters or other industries that release lead into the air. • Your job. If you work with lead, you could bring it home on your body or clothes. Shower and change clothes before coming home. Launder your work clothes separately from the rest of your family’s clothes. • Hobbies that use lead, such as making pottery or stained glass, or refinishing furniture. Call your local health department for information about hobbies that may use lead. • Old toys and furniture may have been painted with lead-containing paint. Older toys and other children’s products may have parts that contain lead.4 • Food and liquids cooked or stored in lead crystal or lead-glazed pottery or porcelain may contain lead. • Folk remedies, such as “greta” and “azarcon,” used to treat an upset stomach.

4

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In 1978, the federal government banned toys, other children’s products, and furniture with lead-containing paint (16 CFR 1303). In 2008, the federal government banned lead in most children’s products. The federal government currently bans lead in excess of 100 ppm by weight in most children’s products (76 FR 44463).

For More Information The National Lead Information Center Learn how to protect children from lead poisoning and get other information about lead hazards on the Web at epa.gov/lead and hud.gov/lead, or call 1-800-424-LEAD (5323). EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline For information about lead in drinking water, call 1-800-426-4791, or visit epa.gov/lead for information about lead in drinking water. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Hotline For information on lead in toys and other consumer products, or to report an unsafe consumer product or a product-related injury, call 1-800-638-2772, or visit CPSC’s website at cpsc.gov or saferproducts.gov. State and Local Health and Environmental Agencies Some states, tribes, and cities have their own rules related to leadbased paint. Check with your local agency to see which laws apply to you. Most agencies can also provide information on finding a lead abatement firm in your area, and on possible sources of financial aid for reducing lead hazards. Receive up-to-date address and phone information for your state or local contacts on the Web at epa.gov/lead, or contact the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD. Hearing- or speech-challenged individuals may access any of the phone numbers in this brochure through TTY by calling the tollfree Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.

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U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Offices The mission of EPA is to protect human health and the environment. Your Regional EPA Office can provide further information regarding regulations and lead protection programs. Region 1 (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont)

Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and 66 Tribes)

Regional Lead Contact U.S. EPA Region 1 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100, OES 05-4 Boston, MA 02109-3912 (888) 372-7341

Regional Lead Contact U.S. EPA Region 6 1445 Ross Avenue, 12th Floor Dallas, TX 75202-2733 (214) 665-2704

Region 2 (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands)

Region 7 (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska)

Regional Lead Contact U.S. EPA Region 2 2890 Woodbridge Avenue Building 205, Mail Stop 225 Edison, NJ 08837-3679 (732) 321-6671 Region 3 (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, DC, West Virginia) Regional Lead Contact U.S. EPA Region 3 1650 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 814-2088 Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee) Regional Lead Contact U.S. EPA Region 4 AFC Tower, 12th Floor, Air, Pesticides & Toxics 61 Forsyth Street, SW Atlanta, GA 30303 (404) 562-8998 Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin) Regional Lead Contact U.S. EPA Region 5 (DT-8J) 77 West Jackson Boulevard Chicago, IL 60604-3666 (312) 886-7836

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Regional Lead Contact U.S. EPA Region 7 11201 Renner Blvd. WWPD/TOPE Lenexa, KS 66219 (800) 223-0425 Region 8 (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming) Regional Lead Contact U.S. EPA Region 8 1595 Wynkoop St. Denver, CO 80202 (303) 312-6966 Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada) Regional Lead Contact U.S. EPA Region 9 (CMD-4-2) 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 947-4280 Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington) Regional Lead Contact U.S. EPA Region 10 Solid Waste & Toxics Unit (WCM-128) 1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900 Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 553-1200

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) The CPSC protects the public against unreasonable risk of injury from consumer products through education, safety standards activities, and enforcement. Contact CPSC for further information regarding consumer product safety and regulations. CPSC 4330 East West Highway Bethesda, MD 20814-4421 1-800-638-2772 cpsc.gov or saferproducts.gov

U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. Contact HUD’s Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control for further information regarding the Lead Safe Housing Rule, which protects families in pre-1978 assisted housing, and for the lead hazard control and research grant programs. HUD 451 Seventh Street, SW, Room 8236 Washington, DC 20410-3000 (202) 402-7698 hud.gov/offices/lead/ This document is in the public domain. It may be produced by an individual or organization without permission. Information provided in this booklet is based upon current scientific and technical understanding of the issues presented and is reflective of the jurisdictional boundaries established by the statutes governing the co-authoring agencies. Following the advice given will not necessarily provide complete protection in all situations or against all health hazards that can be caused by lead exposure. U. S. EPA Washington DC 20460 U. S. CPSC Bethesda MD 20814 U. S. HUD Washington DC 20410

EPA-747-K-12-001 September 2013

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IMPORTANT! Lead From Paint, Dust, and Soil in and Around Your Home Can Be Dangerous if Not Managed Properly • Children under 6 years old are most at risk for lead

poisoning in your home.

• Lead exposure can harm young children and babies even

before they are born.

• Homes, schools, and child care facilities built before 1978

are likely to contain lead-based paint.

• Even children who seem healthy may have dangerous

levels of lead in their bodies.

• Disturbing surfaces with lead-based paint or removing

lead-based paint improperly can increase the danger to your family.

• People can get lead into their bodies by breathing or

swallowing lead dust, or by eating soil or paint chips containing lead.

• People have many options for reducing lead hazards.

Generally, lead-based paint that is in good condition is not a hazard (see page 10).