The danger will be either potential if coatings are in good condition, or inmediate if they are old and deteriorated.
The lead used in old paints is poisonous and causes saturnism (anaemia or irreversible damages to the nervous system). Lead poisoning can be caused by ingestion, inhalation, or by cutaneous absorption.
Contamination can occur when a child puts paint chips in his mouth, or during works when ingesting blowing dusts from sandpapering.
Following a rise in the number of saturnism cases, a diagnosis on the risk of exposure to lead of less than six years old is required since 12 August 2008 for any new rental lease.

Attention! The lessor's obligation to provide a diagnosis on risk of exposure to lead does not apply to leases concluded before 12 August 2008. Nevertheless, if the lease is renewed and a new lease agreement is concluded after the 12th of August 2008, the diagnosis becomes mandatory. On the contrary, a tacit renewal of the lease is not considered as a new lease agreement. In that case a new diagnosis is not required.

How is a lead detection performed?

Up to now, x-rays detection is the only method officially approved. The x-rays can go through and analyse up to15 layers of paint. All painted items inside the property have to be analysed, including  outdoor items such as shutters and railings. Indeed, metal outdoor items were often coated with minium (lead-based anti-rust protection).

Useful information: in case of a rented property inside a condominium, the CREP report applies only to the rented private unit.

The report shall contain the following elements:

• lead concentration and analysis method used;
• state of coating;
• if necessary, reasons that lead to building deterioriation.

In case of high concentrations of lead, the expert is required to forward a copy of the diagnosis to the prefecture. The prefecture will then inform the DDASS (the French regional health and social services department), who will in turn contact the owner of the property to decide jointly what works have to be done.

 A coating contains lead if one of the following conditions is met:

• the total surface concentrations of lead measured with a portable x-ray fluorescence device is greater than or equal to 1milligram per square centimeter (1mg/cm2);
• the mass concentrations of soluble acide lead measured in laboratory is greater than or equal to 1.5 milligrams per gram (1.5 mg/g);
• If the diagnosis shows results below the accepted standards, it remains valid undefinitely.

Attention! Some house inspectors are not equipped or trained for lead diagnosis. To avoid having to call upon the services of another expert and thus increase the costs of the home condition report, choose carefully your service provider.