1. Background
Tenants can expect Homes NSW to maintain a property in a reasonable state of repair. The aim of this policy is to protect the health and safety of our tenants, clients, staff and contractors by minimising their exposure to lead paint.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all properties owned by Homes NSW with tenancies managed by Homes NSW or a community housing provider.
3. Policy statement
Homes NSW is responsible for making tenants’ homes safe and healthy places to live.
Lead paint within a property or yard is considered a potential health risk therefore timely and practical actions to protect tenants, staff, contractors as well as neighbours, will be taken when working with lead paint in Homes NSW properties.
Tenants will not be allocated to live in properties with identified lead paint risk until these hazards have been removed.
In properties where children under the age of five years are part of the household, Homes NSW will act immediately if lead paint is in a form and context that can be directly ingested by children.
4. Lead hazard
Lead may be found in lead-based paint, in soil and roof or wall cavities.
Lead hazard is a condition that causes exposure to lead and could result in negative human health effects. High-risk groups are:
- All children, with those under the age of five (5) years most at risk
- pregnant women
- those who are occupationally exposed to lead
Intact lead paint is not considered a hazard, although the paint should be maintained, and its original condition monitored to ensure that it doesn’t deteriorate.
Hazards associated with lead can arise from:
- deteriorating lead contaminated paint or lead paint present on accessible friction or impact surfaces.
- lead contaminated paint (lead paint) is any paint, stain, varnish, or other applied coating that has 1mg/cm2 (or 1% by dry weight) or more of lead. These two units of measurement are not interchangeable.
- lead contaminated dust where lead loading exceeds:
- 1mg/m2 (as lead) for interior floors
- 5mg/m2 (as lead) for interior window seals
- 8mg/m2 (as lead) for exterior surfaces
- bare, lead contaminated soil, where lead content exceeds:
- 300mg/kg (as lead) for residential properties with gardens, including villas and townhouses
- 1200mg/kg (as lead) for high rise apartments and units.
5. Legislation and compliance
Homes NSW acquires and manages properties in accordance with: