Why DIY lead paint work is unsafe
No — you should not try to remove, sand, or scrape lead paint yourself, and even repainting over it should be done carefully. Disturbing lead paint is exactly what creates dangerous lead dust and chips, and do-it-yourself removal can spread contamination through your home.
Safely dealing with lead paint is specialized work. Federal rules require that renovation, repair, and painting that disturbs lead paint in older homes be done by trained, certified professionals using lead-safe practices. Ordinary sanding, scraping, and cleanup can leave behind lead dust that is especially dangerous to children.
Simply painting over peeling lead paint without proper prep does not reliably fix the hazard and can fail quickly. Addressing a lead hazard is generally the landlord's responsibility, using qualified professionals — not a task for tenants.
If your landlord is pressuring you to handle lead paint yourself, or is refusing to bring in certified professionals for a deteriorating hazard, that is a problem. A free, confidential review can explain your rights and who is responsible.
This is general information about California tenant rights, not legal advice. Every situation is different.