Buying or renting an older home? Lead and radon questions

Paste the listing or disclosure forms; get the EPA lead-paint and radon questions to ask before you sign.

What it does

No bot required. For most homes and apartments built before 1978, federal law says the seller or landlord (and their agent) must give you EPA's lead pamphlet, tell you about any known lead-based paint, and share any reports before you sign. Buyers also get a chance, usually 10 days, to have a lead inspection done. Separately, EPA recommends testing for radon whenever a home is bought or sold. Paste the listing or disclosure into any chat AI and it tells you which of these apply, what's missing, and the plain questions to ask. It works for buyers, renters, sellers getting ready to list, and part-time agents double-checking their paperwork. It's a checklist, not a home inspection or legal advice.

Copy-paste prompt

No bot needed: paste this into Grok, ChatGPT, or Claude.

I'm [buying / renting / selling] a home. Here's what I have:
[paste the listing, the year built, and any disclosure forms or messages from the agent, seller or landlord]

Please:
1. Tell me whether the federal lead-based paint disclosure rule likely applies (most housing built before 1978; EPA lists exceptions such as zero-bedroom units, leases of 100 days or less, and housing certified lead-free).
2. If it applies, check whether I got: EPA's "Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home" pamphlet, the seller's or landlord's disclosure of any known lead paint or hazards, any lead reports or records, and a Lead Warning Statement in the contract or lease. List anything missing.
3. If I'm buying: remind me I usually get a 10-day window for a lead inspection or risk assessment by a certified inspector (it can be changed or waived in writing), and that EPA has a locator for certified inspectors.
4. Radon: using EPA's Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon, list what to ask: has it been tested, when, on which level, what was the result, and is there a radon system with paperwork. Remind me EPA says to fix the home if the level is 4 pCi/L or higher, and to test the lowest level we'd regularly use. If I'm renting, point me to EPA's radon guide for tenants.
5. Write the questions as a short, polite list I can text or email to the agent, seller or landlord.
6. If I mention peeling or chipping paint and young children or a pregnancy in the home, tell me to raise it with the seller or landlord in writing and to ask our doctor about lead testing.

Don't give legal advice. For state rules, tell me to check my state's housing or health department.