ENSURING EACH PROPETY IS LICENSED AND REGISTERED PROPERLY PROTECTS OUR TENANTS AND OUR OWNERS
As part of the onboarding process, we identify and apply for required rental licenses – no additional charge.
In addition, some of our properties are required to be registered with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and renewed annually – this is also performed at no additional cost to Boomtown property owners.
Rental property licensing and registration is not brian science, but follow-through is imperative.
Lead Paint License and Registration
Based on the age of your home it may require a lead paint certification and subsequent registration. All tests must be performed by trained lead paint inspectors certified by the State of Maryland.
Lead-free Certification. If you think your property does not contain any lead paint (even in old paint layers beneath new paint) it can be tested and potentially achieve a lead-free certification. When a lead-free inspection is performed all painted surfaced are tested using an XRF (X-ray fluorescence) gun. This technology can detect if any part of the tested area has been painted using lead-based paint in the past. If any part of the home contains lead-based paint (interior or exterior) it will fail the inspection and will not be eligible for a lead-free certification. Lead-free certifications do not need to be renewed but must be registered with MDE upon issuance.
Full-Risk Reduction Certification. Properties that fail the Lead-free Certification, or properties that are known to have lead-based paint can still be rented after obtaining a Full-Risk Reduction Certification. These certifications are issued after a visual inspection is performed on the interior and exterior of the home to confirm there is no chipping paint. Additionally, cotton swabs are used to collect dust specimens in the home to test for the presence of lead dust. The swabs are tested in a lab and the results are usually processed in a matter of days. If the swabs pass a certificate is issued and that certificate needs to be registered with the state and re-registered at the beginning of each year. Additionally, new certifications need to be performed with each tenant turnover.
Limited Lead-free Certification. Finally, in some few instances (usually after an extensive renovation) old properties may be eligible for a limited lead-free certification. If the interior of a home has been certified as lead-free but the exterior of the same home contains lead paint the homeowner can elect to certify their home as limited lead-free. This certification only requires exterior lead paint inspections every two years to confirm all exterior painted surfaces are in-tact and do not have any chipping paint.
In addition to the certification, there are lease specific disclosures that must be made to new tenants at lease signing. At Boomtown we do everything from prepping your property for an inspection, to scheduling lead-paint inspections and registering your property at no additional cost.
County and Municipal Rental Licensing
Approximately half of Boomtown managed properties require a renal license and subsequent annual renewals.
There is no state rental licensing authority for Maryland; however, many counties do require rental property registration and subsequent licensure for each rental property. To make things more confusing larger municipalities often have their own requirements for rental properties to conform to local ordinances. In one locale, the issuing authority requires landlords to be certified by passing a lengthy online exam regarding local rental policies. Where required, rental licenses must be issued and maintained to take any legal action against tenants.
Although tedious, rental property licensing is required to ensure our homeowners are protected each home is safe. If your property requires a license, we’re happy to take this off your plate at no additional cost.