A lead risk assessment answers a different question than a lead paint inspection. An inspection tells you whether lead-based paint is present on tested surfaces; a risk assessment starts from there (often after an inspection, or where lead paint is already presumed or known) and evaluates whether that paint is currently a hazard — because intact lead-based paint that isn't deteriorating, isn't being disturbed, and isn't generating dust is a very different situation from peeling paint on a windowsill a child could put their hands on.
The assessment specifically looks at deteriorated paint surfaces (chipping, peeling, cracking), friction and impact surfaces (windows and doors that rub or bang, generating fine lead dust over time even from intact-looking paint), and collects dust-wipe samples from floors, windowsills and other surfaces to test for lead-contaminated dust — since dust, not just visible paint condition, is one of the most common ways lead exposure actually happens, especially for young children.
The output is a hazard evaluation with a specific, actionable recommendation: whether the property currently presents a lead hazard, and if so, what scope of remediation is warranted — anything from simple repainting of a contained area to full abatement of specific components. This is meaningfully more specific than 'lead paint is present,' and it's the assessment landlords and owners typically need to actually act on their NYC Local Law 1/31 obligations rather than just document presence.
Signs you have a lead risk assessment problem
- A lead paint inspection has already confirmed lead-based paint is present and you need to know if it's an active hazard
- You have deteriorating, chipping or peeling paint in a pre-1978 building
- A child under six lives in the unit and NYC Local Law 1 obligations apply to your specific situation
- You want dust-wipe sampling to check for lead-contaminated dust, not just paint condition
- You need a documented remediation scope to plan and budget the actual work required
Why Manhattan sees this
NYC Local Law 1 and Local Law 31 place specific hazard-identification and remediation obligations on owners of covered multiple dwellings, particularly where a child under six resides in the unit — a risk assessment is what actually tells an owner whether those obligations are triggered by an active hazard, not just a presumption of lead paint.
NYC's older multi-family housing stock means friction surfaces like original windows and doors — often original to buildings from decades ago — are a common source of lead dust generation even where paint isn't visibly peeling, which is why we treat friction-surface review as a core part of the assessment rather than an afterthought.
Where a risk assessment identifies a hazard, we're clear that remediation work in NYC often needs to follow specific safe-work practices to avoid creating additional lead dust during the fix — we can refer you to a qualified remediation contractor for that scope.