Lead (CREP)

The Lead Exposure Risk Assessment

The CREP searches for the presence of lead in a home’s coatings, mainly old paints. Lead, long used in so-called white-lead paints, is the cause of lead poisoning, an intoxication that is especially dangerous for young children and pregnant women. The assessment aims to identify this risk and to prevent any exposure.

Why this diagnostic matters

Swallowing or inhaling lead particles, in particular from flakes of degraded paint or from dust, can cause serious and lasting developmental disorders in children. By identifying at-risk surfaces, the CREP makes it possible to anticipate the precautions to take and, where needed, to guide restoration work.

Which homes are concerned?

The CREP applies to homes built before 1 January 1949, a period during which lead paints were commonly used. More recent properties are not subject to this assessment, since lead subsequently disappeared from paints used in housing.

When is it mandatory?

The assessment is required both for the sale and for the rental of a concerned home. It is among the documents given to the buyer or tenant, who must be clearly informed of the condition of the coatings and of any associated risks.

What the assessor measures

Using an X-ray fluorescence device, the operator measures the lead concentration of coatings without damaging them. In particular, they analyse:

• The paints on walls, ceilings and floors
• Interior and exterior joinery: doors, windows, skirting boards
• Frames, shutters and railings
• The condition of surfaces containing lead

How the measurement proceeds

The intervention is carried out room by room and on each diagnostic unit. Its duration depends on the number of rooms and the floor area of the home. The assessor must be able to reach every surface, including storage areas and hard-to-see spots where old layers of paint may remain.

What the report reveals

For each analysed surface, the assessment states the measured lead concentration and the condition of the coating. It flags at-risk situations, in particular degraded paints exceeding the regulatory threshold, and recalls the resulting obligations to inform and, where applicable, to carry out work.

Period of validity

When the assessment concludes there is no lead, or a presence below the regulatory threshold, its validity is unlimited. If, on the other hand, lead is detected above the threshold, validity is reduced to one year for a sale and six years for a rental, to account for the possible change in the condition of the coatings.

Absence or error: what are the consequences?

A home offered for sale or rental without a valid CREP exposes the owner to penalties and to liability in the event of harm. Where the assessment reveals a danger, the absence of appropriate measures can more broadly engage the landlord’s liability towards the occupants’ health.

Price factors

The cost of a CREP is influenced by the number of rooms, the floor area, the age of the home and its location. As with the other diagnostics, having it done at the same time as those required for the sale or rental generally allows the visit to be shared and the bill reduced.

Frequently asked questions

Is a CREP needed for a whole building?

For the common areas of residential buildings constructed before 1949, a specific assessment exists. The CREP carried out for a sale or rental covers the private home concerned.

What should I do if lead is detected?

If the coatings are in good condition, simple vigilance is enough. Where paint is degraded above the threshold, covering or removal work is recommended to eliminate the risk, especially where young children are present.

Is a single fresh coat of paint enough?

Covering lead paint can temporarily limit the risk, but does not remove it lastingly if the layer deteriorates. Only suitable treatment, documented in the report, guarantees reliable safety.