Final answer:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires the disclosure of information on lead-based paint before the sale or lease of housing built before 1978, as part of enforcing the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992.
Step-by-step explanation:
The entity that requires disclosure of known information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before the sale or lease of most housing built before 1978 is the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This requirement comes under the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992, also known as Title X, which aims to protect the public, especially young children, from exposure to lead from paint, dust, and soil. HUD enforces these regulations in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Since lead-based paint was banned in the U.S. for use in housing in 1978, homes built before this year may still contain such paint beneath newer layers. When this paint deteriorates or is disturbed during renovations, it can pose significant health risks.