Dec. 5, 1996, marked the first time that all home buyers and tenants have the right to know about potential lead-based paint hazards before they buying or renting older housing under a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program.

Prospective tenants or buyers of pre-1978 residential dwellings — including single-family-home owners — can ask for and receive information on known lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before purchasing or renting.