Houses that poison children should be so designated with a plaque out front, Ward says. It's just basic information. Houses that can't be fixed should be torn down, he says. Richard H. Godfrey Jr., executive director of the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation, which is using millions of dollars in HUD money to provide lead-abatement loans to homeowners, says many landlords are not cooperating because they can't generate enough rental income to keep their apartments lead safe. We're facing entrenched opposition from realtors and landlords.
Landlords already have properties valued at less than cost.
Some contractors feared that when the state Department of Environmental Management started regulating workers who scrape lead paint from house exteriors, they would be hit with onerous fines that would put many out of business. That didn't happen. The DEM has only three inspectors, and they are responsible for many duties besides lead paint. Last year the inspectors issued 32 warning letters to homeowners for violating regulations on removing lead paint. Five second-offenders got notices of violation.