Bristol Landlord Fined For Failing To Disclose Lead Paint Hazards

A Bristol landlord has been fined $2,140 and has agreed to pay $20,360 for lead abatement after failing to inform tenants about the presence and hazards of lead paint, federal environmental officials said.Landlord Michael Perugini violated the federal lead disclosure rule when he failed to let seven tenants know about the presence of lead paint when they leased units in Perugini's Bristol apartment buildings, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Boston.The EPA said Perugini did not provide records or reports regarding lead hazards, and failed to make sure that the lease included a lead warning statement and a statement disclosing the known or unknown presence of lead-based paint. In addition, Perugini failed to provide a copy of EPA's lead hazard information pamphlet.The properties are at 309, 353 and 372 Park St., 41 Stearns St and 21 Wolcott St.Perugini has agreed to remove some potential lead sources, including windows and doors, which according to the EPA.Perugini couldn't be reached for comment Thursday.The EPA said Thursday that the violations were discovered after a complaint from one of the tenants.The rules involved in the Perugini case are separate from new lead paint rules that recently went into effect requiring contractor to take special precautions when doing renovations in residences that were built before 1978, Lead-based paint was banned in that year.