A Minnesota landlord must take steps to protect tenants from exposure to lead paint in its rental homes, a Ramsey County District Court judge has ruled.
State Attorney General Keith Ellison accused Progress Residential Management Services of "sloppy practices" in its attempts to remove lead paint, according to a Dec. 22 order by Judge Mark Ireland granting Ellison's motion for a temporary injunction.
"The risk to the health and safety of these tenants, particularly children, is significant and could impact their life," Ireland wrote.
Progress is a co-defendant in a suit brought by Ellison in February 2022 against HavenBrook Homes and its owner, New York-based Pretium Partners, and serves as the day-to-day manager of about 600 rental properties in Minnesota, the judge wrote.
Ireland said the companies vehemently denied Ellison's allegations, but they did not dispute the dangers posed by lead paint. Progress did not provide additional comment Friday.
"I am relieved the court ordered that Progress follow the law and take basic safety precautions when doing work in its tenants' homes," Ellison said in a statement. "Landlords who take shortcuts put the health and safety of Minnesota's renting families at risk."
Ellison alleged that Progress exposed tenants to lead paint dust and chips by disturbing painted surfaces without taking safety precautions that included using plastic sheets to contain debris and a HEPA-filtered vacuum to remove the substances.
In his order, Ireland said Progress must hire certified professionals to inspect homes built before 1978 for the presence of lead paint before beginning any repairs.
