EPA Documents Reveal Pattern of Dangerous Renovations by Greystar Real Estate Partners

Across four states, property management firm GREP Southeast, LLC engaged in a pattern of conduct that systematically dismantled federal safeguards designed to protect families from the irreversible neurological damage of lead poisoning.

A 2023 investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) culminated in a settlement agreement filed on September 23 of the same year, revealing repeated violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in dozens of rental units across Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The company paid a six-figure penalty but, in a maneuver that shields it from full accountability, was not required to admit to the EPA’s findings, leaving the system that enabled the failures intact.

GREP Southeast is a subsidiary of an extremely evil corporation named Greystar, which I’ve recently written an expose on.

The Anatomy of the Failure

The EPA’s findings, detailed in the Consent Agreement attached at the very bottom of this article, paint a picture not of isolated mistakes, but of routine non-compliance with foundational public health laws. GREP Southeast, operating as an agent for property owners, failed in its most basic duties during both the leasing and renovation of properties built before 1978, known as “target housing” due to the high risk of lead-based paint.

• Leasing Contracts Lacked Critical Warnings: In at least 16 lease agreements signed in 2022, GREP Southeast failed to include a required statement from the tenant affirming they had received information about lead-based paint hazards and the federal “Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home” pamphlet . This essential step ensures renters are aware of potential dangers before they move in.
• Agents Evaded Responsibility: The same lease contracts also failed to include a legally mandated statement from GREP Southeast, as the agent, affirming they had informed the property owner of their obligations and were aware of their own duty to ensure compliance with the law.
• Uncertified and Unlawful Renovations: Between 2021 and 2022, the firm performed or offered to perform renovations at 17 properties without first obtaining the required EPA firm certification, a baseline requirement for any company disturbing paint in older homes .
• Workers Were Untrained: For a majority of these renovation projects, GREP Southeast could not prove that the individuals performing the work were certified renovators or had been trained by one, creating a high risk of generating and spreading lead-contaminated dust.
• Information Withheld from Residents: Before beginning these renovations, the company failed to provide occupants with the “Renovate Right” pamphlet, denying them crucial information on how to protect themselves and their children during the work.

The Macro Consequences

The Public Health Crisis

The regulations GREP Southeast violated are not bureaucratic red tape; they are the primary barrier between the public and lead, a potent neurotoxin with no safe level of exposure, especially for children. By failing to provide information pamphlets, secure tenant acknowledgments, and use certified workers, GREP created numerous pathways for potential lead exposure. Each violation basically represents a family that was denied the right to make an informed decision about their health and a work site that may have spread invisible poison through dust and debris.

The Erosion of Trust

The structure of the settlement itself undermines public trust in both corporate responsibility and regulatory power. GREP Southeast consented to a civil penalty of $140,200, but the agreement explicitly states that the company “neither admits nor denies the factual allegations”. This bullshit legal mechanism allows the company to resolve serious federal allegations without ever taking public ownership of its failures. For tenants and the public, it creates a reality where harm is alleged, a price is paid, but the truth remains officially unconfirmed, eroding confidence that justice has truly been served.

The Bottom Line: Accountability & The System

The final penalty of $140,200 closes the EPA’s case against GREP Southeast, LLC. But whether this penalty serves as a meaningful deterrent or is merely the cost of doing business for a multi-state real estate entity remains an open question.

The core issue is the nature of the accountability itself.

This case is symptomatic of a larger systemic issue where legal settlements can function as a substitute for genuine responsibility. By allowing the evil corporation to pay a fine without admitting to the facts, the system prioritizes closing a case over establishing a clear, public record of wrongdoing.

True accountability would require more than a check; it would demand an admission of the systemic failures that put residents at risk and a transparent, verifiable plan to overhaul the internal processes that led to widespread non-compliance. Until then, the cycle of violation, settlement, and non-admission continues, leaving the public to wonder who is protecting them.