Available Assistance
FREE Professional Services
- Lead Inspection
- Lead Risk Assessment
- Lead Remediation Design
- Lead Clearance Certification
- Essential Maintenance Plan to help owners maintain their lead-safe units
The estimated value of these services is $3,200 per unit.
100% Forgivable Loan
Applicants can receive a 0%-interest loan of up to $20,000 per unit for lead remediation work. Owner contribution is not required. Note: contribution of 10% is required for buildings under a lead abatement order.
The loan will be 100% forgiven after 3 years if the property is available to low-income families, not sold during the loan period, and remains lead safe and code compliant.
Eligible Properties
Properties must be located in Biddeford’s downtown area, be built before 1978, and have lead-based paint in deteriorated condition. Privately owned multi-unit buildings and mixed use/commercial buildings that have City-approved residential units are eligible for this program. Funding can be used to control lead in not only the residential units, but also any common areas of the building serving the units, such as hallways, stairways, and landings.
Occupancy Requirements
The property owner must give rental priority to low-income families with children under age 6 for at least three years following lead remediation. Specific occupancy requirements are determined by the number of units in the property.
HUD Household Income Limits 2023
Multi-unit property with no more than 4 units
At least 50% of building units remediated must be occupied by (or made available to) families with incomes at or below 50% of Area Median Income AND all remaining units remediated must be occupied by (or made available to) families with incomes at or below 80% of Area Median Income.
Multi-unit property with 5 or more units
20% of total remediated units in same building may exceed 80% of Area Median Income. Of the remaining units in the same building, at least 50% must be occupied (or made available to) families with incomes at or below 50% of Area Median Income. The balance of units remediated must be occupied by (or made available to) families with incomes at or below 80% of Area Median Income.
"Healthy Homes" Grants
Properties remediated under this program may also be eligible for a one-time grant of up to $5,000 per unit to address health & safety issues, such as the replacement of fire doors and egress windows. A complimentary Healthy Homes Risk Assessment will be performed at the same time as the lead inspection to identify health and safety issues across 29 domains.
Funding Priority
Funding priority will be in the following order:
- Buildings under a Lead Abatement Order.
- Buildings occupied by families with:
- A child with an elevated blood lead level,
- A child under age 6, OR
- A pregnant woman.
- All OTHER multi-unit buildings.