a. In any dwelling unit in a multiple dwelling erected prior to January first, nineteen hundred sixty where a child of applicable age resides, and in any dwelling unit in a multiple dwelling erected on or after January first, nineteen hundred sixty and before January first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight where a child of applicable age resides and the owner has actual knowledge of the presence of lead-based paint, and in common areas of such multiple dwellings, the owner shall cause an investigation to be made for peeling paint, chewable surfaces, deteriorated subsurfaces, friction surfaces and impact surfaces. Such investigation shall be undertaken at least once a year and more often if necessary, such as when, in the exercise of reasonable care, an owner knows or should have known of a condition that is reasonably foreseeable to cause a lead-based paint hazard, or an occupant makes a complaint concerning a condition that is likely to cause a lead-based paint hazard or requests an inspection, or the department issues a notice of violation or orders the correction of a violation that is likely to cause a lead-based paint hazard. The owner shall ascertain whether a child resides therein pursuant to the requirements of this section.
b. No occupant in a dwelling unit in such multiple dwelling shall refuse or unreasonably fail to provide accurate and truthful information regarding the residency of a child of applicable age therein, nor shall an occupant refuse access to the owner at a reasonable time and upon reasonable prior notice to any part of the dwelling unit for the purpose of investigation and repair of lead-based paint hazards.
c. All leases offered to tenants or prospective tenants in such multiple dwellings must contain a notice, conspicuously set forth therein, which advises tenants of the obligations of the owner and tenant as set forth in this section. Such notice must be in a manner approved by the department, the content of which shall, at a minimum, be in English and Spanish. The owner of such multiple dwelling shall provide the occupant of such multiple dwelling with the pamphlet described in subdivision b of section 17-179 of this code.
d. (1) The owner of such a multiple dwelling shall provide to an occupant of a dwelling unit at the signing of a lease, including a renewal lease, if any, or upon any agreement to lease, or at the commencement of occupancy if there is no lease, a notice in English and Spanish, the form and content of which shall be approved by the department of health and mental hygiene, inquiring whether a child of applicable age resides or will reside therein. If there is a lease, such notice shall be included in such lease or be attached as a rider to such lease. Such notice shall be completed by the occupant at the time of such signing of a lease, including a renewal lease, if any, or such agreement to lease, or at such commencement of occupancy. (2) Where an occupant has responded to the notice provided by the owner pursuant to paragraph one of subdivision d of this section by indicating that no child of applicable age resides therein, during the period between the date of such response and the delivery of the notice provided by the owner pursuant to subdivision e of this section during the immediately following year the occupant shall have the responsibility to inform the owner of any child of applicable age that comes to reside therein during such period. In the event such occupant fails to inform the owner of such child as required by this paragraph, and the owner does not otherwise have actual knowledge that such child is residing in the dwelling unit, the presumption provided for in section 27-2056.5 of this article shall not apply in any action to recover damages for personal injury caused by contact with or exposure to lead-based paint or lead-contaminated dust.
e. (1) Each year, an owner of a multiple dwelling erected prior to January first, nineteen hundred sixty shall, no earlier than January first and no later than January sixteenth, except as provided for in subparagraph iii of paragraph two of this subdivision, present to the occupant of each dwelling unit in such multiple dwelling a notice inquiring as to whether a child of applicable age resides therein. Such notice, the form and content of which shall be approved by the department of health and mental hygiene, shall be presented as provided for in paragraph two of this subdivision, and shall be in English and Spanish. (2) The owner may present the notice required by paragraph one of this subdivision by delivering said notice by any one of the following methods: (i) by first class mail, addressed to the occupant of the dwelling unit; (ii) by hand delivery to the occupant of the dwelling unit; (iii) by enclosure with the January rent bill, if such rent bill is delivered after December fifteenth but no later than January sixteenth; or (iv) by delivering said notice in conjunction with the annual notice required pursuant to section 17-123 of this code and the rules of the department of health and mental hygiene pertaining to the installation of window guards. (3) (i) Upon receipt of such notice the occupant shall have the responsibility to deliver by February fifteenth of that year, a written response to the owner indicating whether or not a child of applicable age resides therein. If, subsequent to delivery of such notice, the owner does not receive such written response by February fifteenth, and does not otherwise have actual knowledge as to whether a child of applicable age resides therein, then the owner shall at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice inspect that occupant’s dwelling unit to ascertain the residency of a child of applicable age and, when necessary, conduct an investigation in order to make that determination. Where, between February sixteenth and March first of that year, the owner has made reasonable attempts to gain access to a dwelling unit to determine if a child of applicable age resides in that dwelling unit and was unable to gain access, the owner shall notify the department of health and mental hygiene of that circumstance. (ii) Where an occupant has responded to the notice provided by the owner pursuant to subparagraph (i) of this paragraph by indicating that no child of applicable age resides therein, during the period between the date of such response and the delivery of the notice provided by the owner pursuant to this subdivision during the immediately following year the occupant shall have the responsibility to inform the owner of any child of applicable age that comes to reside therein during such period. In the event such occupant fails to inform the owner of such child as required by this paragraph, and the owner does not otherwise have actual knowledge that such child is residing in the dwelling unit, the presumption provided for in section 27-2056.5 of this article shall not apply in any action to recover damages for personal injury caused by contact with or exposure to lead-based paint or lead contaminated dust. (4) For calendar year two thousand four, an owner shall be deemed to have satisfied the provisions of paragraphs one through three of this subdivision if such owner delivers or has already delivered to each dwelling unit where a child under six years of age resides a notice identical or substantially similar to that required to have been delivered in calendar year two thousand three, (i) in the same manner as was required in calendar year two thousand three, and (ii) during the same periods of time in calendar year two thousand four as such notice was required to have been delivered during calendar year two thousand three.
f. The owner shall inform the occupant in writing of the results of an investigation undertaken pursuant to this section and shall provide a copy of any such report received or generated by an investigation. The owner shall retain a copy of each investigation report, for ten years from the date of such report and such report shall be made available to the department on request and shall be transferred by the owner to the owner’s successor in title.
g. Any owner who violates the provisions of this section, or the rules promulgated hereunder, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to five hundred dollars or imprisonment for up to six months or both. In addition, any violation of this section shall subject the owner to a civil penalty of not more than one thousand five hundred dollars per violation.
h. The department may, at its discretion, perform sample audits to determine compliance with the requirements of this section.
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