Hello REALTORS®,
The primary elections were held June 11. Some of the elections, notably the race for US Congress, aren’t settled yet. Runoff elections in four races in the Western Upstate are set for June 26.
These are the races that will be in a runoff election:
U.S. House District 3: Sheri Biggs vs. Mark Burns.
SC House District 9: Blake Sanders vs. James Galyean.
Pickens County Council District 5: Chris Bowers vs. Brandon Thomas.
Pickens County Sheriff: Tommy Blankenship vs. Chuck James.
The polls will be open for regular voting on June 25 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Find your polling place by clicking here.
Download the REALTOR® Voter Guide
Your REALTORS® Association’s advocacy team, made up of your fellow Realtors, screened the various candidates and prepared a Voter Guide to help you make you voting decisions. Click here for the Realtor Voter Guide for the runoffs.
PLEASE VOTE!
Property Managers and the Lead Paint Rule
The Lead Paint Rule doesn’t just apply to contractors, it also applies to property managers who manage properties with lead paint. Many properties built before 1978 have lead paint and recently we learned that a Realtor in the Upstate was visited by the EPA conducting a surprise records inspection.
If you are a property manager:
- Managing housing built before 1978.
- Managing any property built before 1978 that is occupied by a child (like a childcare center).
- Performing or contracting to perform regulated construction activity that disturbs lead paint in the property.
Your property management company employees handling those repairs must have an individual certification as a certified Lead Safe Renovator and YOUR company must complete a Lead Safe Firm certification.
Even if your company subcontracts renovation and repair work, your firm and an employees must be certified by the EPA. In addition, you must use a certified renovator if the work disturbs lead paint. These certifications have an expiration date, so it is important that your certifications are kept up-to-date.
You can learn more about complying with these new rules by visiting this EPA webpage on lead paint. (https://www.epa.gov/lead/renovation-repair-and-painting-program-property-managers)
Support RPAC
Elections are an important way that your association represents you and helps make a strong market for real estate. Through RPAC, your association supports pro-business candidates who understand the importance of a vibrant economy for real estate. You can help by supporting RPAC. It’s easy. Your association includes a voluntary contribution to RPAC on your annual dues invoice. Pay it, and you are an RPAC supporter. If you haven’t supported RPAC this year, I encourage you to do so by clicking here.
Michael Dey, Director of Government Affairs