For Immediate Release: Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Montgomery Councilmembers Craig Rice
and Sidney Katz Urge Passage of
Radon Test Bill to Inform Homebuyers of Risks
ROCKVILLE, Md., October 13, 2015—Home sales activity within Montgomery County is on the rise, according to the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors (GCAAR). The percentage of home sales that went to closing increased 9.3 percent from August 2014 to August 2015. As more homes are being sold, Montgomery County Councilmembers Craig Rice and Sidney Katz want to ensure that County homebuyers are informed about the potential health risks certain homes may have due to the presence of radon. They are urging the Council to adopt Bill 31-15 that would provide that protection.
Councilmembers Rice and Katz are the lead sponsors of the bill that would provide important information to homebuyers on potential health risks associated with a single-family home they are considering for purchase. The bill will be the focus of a worksession of the Council’s Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 19.
High levels of radon gas can cause serious illness and often occur in single-family homes. Radon might be found in any home, but it is more likely to be present in older homes that were built when the dangers of radon were not considered. Many homes meeting that description can be found in Montgomery County.
Radon is already listed as one of the hazardous materials that a seller must disclose to the buyer of a single-family home if the seller has actual knowledge of its existence under Maryland State law. However, State law does not require a seller to determine if radon exists.
Bill 31-15 would complement State law. An amended version of the original bill will require: “Before completing the sale of a single-family home located in the County, the living quarters of the home must be tested for radon. The radon test results must be performed less than one year before final settlement. Both the seller and the buyer must receive a copy of the results.”
“The serious health consequences of radon and the great risk it poses remain largely unknown to people,” said Councilmember Rice. “However, what we do know is that the U.S. Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today, and the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers, taking 21,000 lives a year. We also know that radon can be found in all homes, old or new, as the gas moves up through the ground into the home through cracks, holes in the foundation or even the groundwater. We also know that Montgomery County is situated in an area that experiences high levels of radon gas. That is why it so important that we pass this protection for homebuyers.”
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General have recommended testing all homes.
“Fortunately, testing is inexpensive and easy to do,” said Councilmember Katz. “Do-It-Yourself radon test kits are available in local hardware stores and online for a little as $40, and that often includes the kit and lab results. The effort to do the testing is minimal, but the long-range impact it can have on the occupants of a home could be major. We need to protect homebuyers in our County.”
If it is determined that a home has high levels of radon, there are several effective methods to reduce the radon level. The most common is installing a vent pipe system and fan which pulls the radon from beneath the house and vents it to the outside.
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