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Crawl space mold © D Friedman at InspectApedia.com Safety & Health in Rental Units
Health Department Tenant Aid: Mold, Sewage, Safety Hazards
in Rental Homes, Apartments, Offices

Health department role in unsanitary or unhealthy rental apartments or offices. When and how to contact your local health department for help with dangerous or unsanitary rental home or apartment conditions.

This document discusses whether or not a tenant should call their local health department officials about a known or suspected health & safety concerns such as a an apartment or rental home where there is open sewage or a sewage backup, or concerning moldy rental apartment, home, or office.

We also discuss how building owners and managers can be expected to react to health department involvement, and when such a call is probably justified.

An easy-to-print PDF version of this article is here.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

Should a tenant call the health department about an unhealthy or unsafe apartment?

This apartment was posted as condemned by a local health department

In some egregious cases tenants have taken their health & safety concern complaint to the local health department.

If there is a serious and obvious problem with mold or other health concerns in a rental apartment, the health department may condemn the property and require the owners to act. In our opinion this is a rather drastic step though it may be appropriate in dire circumstances. In our opinion you should:

  1. Protect yourself and other building occupants from immediate life-safety hazards

    such as gas odors, fire, signs of building collapse or other such risks by leaving the building and advising others to leave.
  2. Notify emergency services 

    such as your local fire, police, or emergency rescue services as appropriate.
  3. For other hazards notify your building management 

    both orally and in writing if you believe that there are unsafe or unhealthy conditions where you rent. Include a brief, accurate, complete description of the concern, the evidence, and include your documentation.
  4. Document the conditions and concerns in writing and in media:

    Photographs, video recordings, sound recordings can all provide clear and compelling evidence that can help both in the diagnosis and response to building or building environment concerns.

    Keep in mind that sometimes a little public exposure of unsafe and improper conditions will help spur a property owner to get going on making their property safe and habitable.

    If you would like to name your location - landlord, rental property, city, county, state - and post some photos of your conditions, that may help your cause. (You can only post one photo per comment, but as many comments and thus photos as you wish.)

    "Recordings often figure in the city's housing disputes, ... tenants have caught on to the usefulness of the electronic devices in their pockets, even in cases with little physical evidence.

    Housing Court judges say tenants have been submitting videos of leaks and other bad conditions in their apartments in recent years..
    ." - The New York Times, 19 October 2015, p. A-1 & A-20.

    SeeReferences or Citations
  5. Get help from local agencies:

    If for the other hazards named in step 2 above you cannot obtain a response from your building management, it may be necessary to seek help from your local officials as we list next.

Sources of Help for Renters in Un-Healthy or Un-Safe Apartments or Homes

The more you know about proper procedures to find and clean up sewage backups or spills, clean moldy buildings or how to deal with other unsafe and unhealthy living conditions, the better you can assure that your situation is handled properly. The links to our Recommended Articles, found at the end of this article, will be helpful.

Moldy House Blog

When is mold a problem in buildings? What should be done about it? Find expert field and lab testing, inspection, remediation advice, but ... avoid "fear of mold" and bogus advice which can both cost you and yet may not really address the problem effectively.

At our Mold Weblog, MOLD CENTRAL: INDOOR AIR QUALITY INVESTIGATION CASE HISTORIES, we may post summaries of field and lab toxic or allergenic mold and other indoor air quality investigations.

We omit private information. We describe observations, procedures, and findings helpful to readers who are trying to remedy their own mold, allergenic, carbon monoxide, odor, or other indoor air and related health concerns in their indoor environment.

 

 

Reader Comments & Q&A

On 2022-12-11 by InspectApedia (Editor) - toxic odor in the apartment

@Angelia,

Sounds as if you will need to either bring in an environmental expert or move out, breaking the lease under the aegis of the landlord's inability or unwillingness to provide safe, habitable housing.

In addition to the article above, you may find additional information and resources helpful that we discuss and list at

HAVE TO LIVE IN AN UNSAFE RENTAL?

On 2022-12-11 by Angelia

I just moved into village Green apartments in South River New jersey, and the landlady that we dealt with told us that the office that we were looking at was the same as the apartment that we were getting, technically she was wrong

however there's a toxic odor in the apartment that we cannot get rid of it's been since December 1st when I picked up the key I have tried to contact them I've been getting the runaround they're not doing anything about it I don't know what else to do

I have tried every chemical I can I've looked on Google to find out what I can use I've gone to paint stores to see what I can use it's like paint thinner nail polish remover and polyurethane base mixed together it is a health hazard

I have asthma and COPD and it is hard to breathe in that apartment we have trying everything, if anybody knows what else I can do I would truly appreciate it thank you

On 2022-12-08 by InspectApedia (Editor) - notify the owner, in writing, of a health-safety concern

@Ruby C,

I'm sure you'll understand that from just your text we can't even guess at what the "whitish dust" might be - commonly it might be house dust (normal), drywall dust, or something else.

If you are confident that your health complaints originate in - occur only after you've been in - your building and its apartment, you may want to notify the owner, in writing, of a health-safety concern and ask that it be addressed immediately for the health and safety of everyone who enters or occupies the building. If there's no response you may need to leave.

About your specific description of health complaints, we in no way minimize the seriousness of your concerns. Although there can be numerous environmental contributors to health issues, please understand that we can't offer medical advice nor diagnosis: we're not doctors and frankly your concerns are too serious and complex to allow guessing at an answer.

Find a doctor whom you trust, and listen to her advice, starting with your general practitioner, in order to find the medical help you need. Ask your doctor if your health concerns might be caused-by or aggravated-by the indoor environments where you spend time. If your doctor says yes, ask for some direction as to the type of indoor condition that should be the target of your on-site inspector.

We welcome your further questions about any articles you may read at InspectApedia.com.

On 2022-12-08 by Ruby C

Hello, I am an onsite manager at an old 1965 to 1970s storage facility. When I moved here the place was a mess. Anyway the owner said he had the apartment fixed. But the heats and air system are ant least 3 decades old.

Anyway I am responsible for changing the AC filters when I opened then there was like badge whitish dust or not sure what it was all caked up in them both. The place is super dust everyday I dust and everyday it's back. I cleaned my fan the other day and it also had the same kind of dust caked up In it.

My mom we are always sick when we are home. Even my dog we are still sick we have both been wheezing coughing and sneezing and difficult breathing. Thanks.

On 2022-12-08 by InspectApedia (Editor) - identify your top two health concerns, and ask your doctor about those

@Anonymous,

It must be extremely difficult to live with the health complaints that you have described, and we in no way minimize the seriousness of your concerns. Although there can be numerous environmental contributors to health issues, please understand that we can't offer medical advice nor diagnosis: we're not doctors and frankly your concerns are too serious and complex to allow guessing at an answer.

But I can suggest a couple of things:

1. You had a less than satisfactory experience talking with your doctors. But try again:

Find a doctor whom you trust, and listen to her advice, starting with your general practitioner, in order to find the medical help you need. Ask your doctor if your health concerns might be caused-by or aggravated-by the indoor environments where you spend time. If your doctor says yes, ask for some direction as to the type of indoor condition that should be the target of your on-site inspector.

2. Think hard about what concerns to bring to the doctor. I understand that there may be many complaints that do (or don't) have a common concern. But too many complaints brought up in single visit are more than most professionals can process, and are so confusing as to be overwhelming to the doctor or consultant just as they are to you.

SO think about your top two health concerns, and ask your doctor about those. Wait until asked before risking burying the doctor alive in a blizzard of worries .

We welcome your further questions about any articles you may read at InspectApedia.com.

On 2022-12-07 by Anonymous

After so much time going by, mostly due to not putting the pieces together or having all of the knowledge I do as of now, and for the fact when I have seen my doctor I have not brought up any of my health issues/symptoms mostly due to the fact when I priviously brought up one of my major symptoms to her (and other doctors-at ER), at the time I did not know how to address it properly and did not know what it was or from what.

So I was dismissed, not checked out, not taken seriously, not listened to, and talked to as well as made me as well as insinuating it was in my head and that I was crazy. By all my primary care, several visits to different hospitals, and even a horrible specialist I was referred to.

ALL occasions, non of them took a look at me/checked me out, non listened to me, and the one or two that did, wasn't listening to what I was actually trying to explain to them. One discharged me with the paperwork saying delusions, most of them just wanted me to get a psych evaluation or refer me to a psych. After that it made me feel like I couldn't open up.

So now, I really need to (and have been needing to for quite some time) to come out with everything to discuss with my primary care doctor. I now am a lot more educated on everything, and connected everything together.

I just REALLY don't know how to address this all to her now, with the anxiety it's given me, with the amount I now know and would have to explain, along with going over the fact not only do I experience these symptoms, but how do I also tell her how and why I believe it all relates to my living conditions? (Which is a BOATLOAD more to explain to her),

and how do I do this all in a way she will actually believe me with everything and believe my apartment could be the cause of it all too?! I really need some advice and help with all this. I've got too much to go over all at once with her, and too much anxiety as it is, nvm the horrible docs ive experienced in past.

The anxiety gets worse with the thought of knowing it looks odd and her questioning/wondering about the time length that's gone by until addressing this all to her. Along with the amount of explanation I will have to just randomly go in and give out of the blue.

I don't know how or where to start, how to explain everything, how to tell her why and how I know it's due to my apartment (which I've never mentioned in past either) and how to do this while getting her to understand, listen and AGREE AND BELIEVE... mostly I'd love to do so by summing it up, and not dragged out, not too random, and not leave or or forget any key important details.

I want to get it all out without sounding crazy, without over explaining and losing her, and making it so she can understand and agree with me!

If I could please get some advice, some sort of sample or template or anything at all regarding this issue of mine that would be wonderful!!!
I've waited too long, the longer I wait, the more weird I feel to come out with it. HELP AND ADVICE PLEASE!!! SOS!

On 2022-11-29 by InspectApedia (Editor) - multiple problems with landlord actions

@TEXAKKIIMMIIE,

My goodness, what a rash of worries you describe. It's almost like a shotgun problem in which lots of pellets of individual problems or sprayed about where you live.

For this situation probably the best course of action for you if you can't move is to find out based on the country and city where you live who regulates and provides protective services for renters.

Then ask them for help. Let me know what you find and what happens. Or you can try to let the sun light of publicity shine on your landlord by naming the location and people involved. That gives that person a chance to respond.

On 2022-11-29 by TEXAKKIIMMIIE

I live in a rental house I've lived here for 11 years my manager has recently decided to take out my windows she took out one in each room and replace the remaining window with a plastic window and left a four inch Gap underneath the window.

it's been a year since she's done anything now she has decided that she is going to install insulation I told her that's illegal and it's extremely dangerous that we need a professional she is threatening to do it anyway this woman doesn't know what she's doing she tried to rewire a light in our bedroom it started a fire that almost killed us she wouldn't take responsibility for that either.

the light fixture in my bedroom is hanging and it has been for over 5 years she refuses to fix it. I became ill last year and she wanted to redo the bathroom I refused she came over I was in pain demanded the keys and said she didn't care they were coming anyway I was in the hospital fighting for my life my appendix ruptured I became septic and I had a bacterial infection that didn't stop her.

not only did she remove windows and just put some boards up over the outside she also took our mailbox off of the house and refuse to put it back on she took our cable wires that were attached to the house and tie them onto the fence.

stating the law to this woman means absolutely nothing she threatens us every way she can she hires unlicensed contractors to do work that is not up to code.my rent is paid on time every single month what can I do about this woman if she tries to put insulation in it could really harm us she doesn't know what she's doing it will get all over everything in the house.

On 2022-11-07 by InspectApedia (Editor) - black mold around my windows

@Marsha Davidson,

Mold found on window sashes themselves could be a small- enough area (less than 30 sq. ft.) that professional cleaning is not required.

But if there have been leaks into the wall cavity or ceiling or floor cavity,a more serious hidden mold problem may be present and would require more expert evaluation and removal.

Beware, don't make the mistake of thinking that black mold is the only or even primary concern in a building.

There are millions of mold species and hundreds that are commonly found in buildings, and colors range across the color spectrum. It's a mistake to think that only black mold is harmful.

You need to take your health concerns to your doctor. Find a doctor whom you trust and listen to her advice.

On 2022-11-07 by Marsha Davidson

I live at the Sally McCracken, it's a Central City Concern building and I have Black mold around my windows.

I went to management about it and he told me that I would have to clean it myself and before I noticed the black mold, I was very sick for 3 days and after I reported I was sick for another 3 to 4 days. I can't open my window to get any air in my apartment. My # 503-547-9076

On 2022-11-06 by InspectApedia (Editor) (mod) - black stuff on ceiling fan is probably house dust not mold

@Reba Osteen,

That doesn't sound like mold, but of course from a text message alone, no one can be certain what you are looking at.

You're welcome to post a photo.

Watch out: if the heating system uses gas as a fuel and the black is from soot, then a very dangerous situation could be present risking carbon monoxide poisoning. So you want to be sure to have the basics checked out promptly.

And, of course, as a general safety comment, be sure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home.

On 2022-11-05 by Reba Osteen

Recently had ac replaced in apt. Old one was here since 1977. 2 days afterwards I noticed things like ceiling fans looked black. Then noticed it was on everything. New filter went from blue to solid black in2-3 days. Could this be mold?

I've had lots of medical problems that have no reason. The return register is completely black as are ceiling registers. I need answers asap.

On 2022-10-08 by InspectApedia-911 (mod)

@Mechelle Reynolds,

Can you post a photo?

On 2022-10-08 by Mechelle Reynolds

I have black mold in and around tub n bathroom of apartment complex me and my 20 year old daughter live in ..reported to manager several times. Nothing done but texts me about feeding stray cats and told me she would write me up if I didn't stop.

On 2022-09-12 by InspectApedia (mod) - increase fresh air ventilation and to ask your Pennsylvania health department for help

@Susan Hornbach,

Well I understand that the best option which is moving to another place may not be easy for you, the two other things you can do are to increase fresh air ventilation and to ask your health department for help.

It sounds like you’re dealing with a very difficult situation. Unfortunately there are too many instances of mgmt or landlords trying to do a quick fix without really fixing anything nor taking into consideration a tenant’s health let alone damage to their property.

Start with your doctor: review your health concerns and get her advice.

I know it's so much easier for me to say than for you to do, but if your home environment is really unhealthy for you (see what the doc thinks) and if the landlord won't fix it, you should consider the possibility of moving out.

There isn’t an easy answer. In addition to the advice we give above on this page, it may be helpful to read through the information and steps we give at

HAZARD REDUCTION FOR UNSAFE SPACES

There we talk about ways to reduce hazards if you can’t immediately leave an unsafe or unhealthy rental. Read specifically the section titled:

Moderator Reply: can't move-out: take steps to reduce immediate hazards where you are

where in addition to the important step of documenting everything, Steps A-D give other possible interim measures to try.

Finally for now, you may need to enlist the help of your county health department. The Chester County Health Department’s contact information is:

Jeanne E. Franklin, Public Health Director
601 Westtown Rd, Ste 290
West Chester, PA, 19380-0990
Phone: 610-344-6225
CCHD@chesco.org

Please ask any additional questions you may have and keep us posted.

On 2022-09-12 by Susan Hornbach

I am 74 yrs old. I live in low income housing. Someone is blowing chemical fumes through my vents and down one wall. I’m convinced it’s a drug dealer in my building. Management won’t listen. I have now developed severe COPD and heart failure.

My place smells of all kinds of chemicals at different times. Right now it’s petfumey and a chemical mixed. Sometimes it’s acetone, sulfide gas, feritlizer, paint thinner , bleach, and smells I can’t describe. I am very sick. My heart has failed recently for the third time.

This person doing this to me seems to be protected by management because they will not listen to me. This person one night spilled a bucket of chemical on my ceiling and down my walls. It sizzled and blew big bubbles on my walls.

Management rushed in, called it a rain leak then cut all the plaster out and replaced it. Now the chemical fumes seem wet and mold is beginning to grow on everything in the bedroom. You can see some black on the vent up high.

I am desperate for some one to help me as these people had told the police I am crazy. I am as sane as the day is long and I need help! Please help me I’m sick from it all. I live in the Denney Reyburn building in West Chester PA Apt 321.

On 2022-09-01 by InspectApedia (mod) - how do I file a complaint with the health department

@Dylan Knight,

When documenting an issue, it's important to share written factual information as much as possible vs. opinions, emotions, criticisms. In other words, in your letter to mgmt., share the dates of the events that have taken place: when the leak occurred, how long it lasted, who you contacted and when, any actions taken so far, current conditions of smell and pests, etc.

Be clear about what your next steps will be (complaint to the health department) unless the problem is remedied by a specific date. Also request a response from them IN WRITING to keep with the documentation that you have begun to collect.

The written documentation can be in the form of a letter or an email, just be sure to keep a copy of anything you send. It may be helpful to call them first (mgmt and/or health dept) to simply ask them how they prefer to receive written communication (mail, email). Keep us posted.

On 2022-09-01 by Dylan Knight

My property management did nothing to stop a severe leak for 3 days until I went over their head and called the owner of the property. Now the mold smell is so bad I have to hold my breath in my bathroom and the property managers aren’t doing any thing about that either, and to too it off its attracted cock roaches.

Id like to give then a written warning that im going to file a complaint with a health department or government agency, but im not sure how to go about that

On 2022-09-03 by InspectApedia (mod) - studio apartment has very poor air quality

@Debbie,

Both of you: Please read the above article as we address various steps that your son, as the tenant, can take to try and find resolution for these issues. Document everything you do to try and resolve the issues present in your housing.

If the bugs are sufficient by type and quantity to be a health issue that's something a landlord is expected to resolve.

Depending on where you live there may also be a requirement to maintain indoor temperatures within a certain range at various times of the year.

Often you'll find that by describing the seriousness of a problem clearly in writing that can move the building management to respond, and if they don't respond in a reasonable amount of time, your documentation will be needed when you contact your health department, building department, or tenant's rights association.

On 2022-08-31 by Debbie

My son is living on the 4th floor in a studio apartment which has very poor air quality. The temperature of his apartment is constantly in the 30’s and even with his fan on does not make a difference at all. The place is also infested with bugs.

The landlord has refused to put air con in the building and does not appear interested in sorting out the room temperature. What action do I need to take to get the landlord to sort this please?

On 2022-08-18 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - contact a local water testing lab

@Cindy,

You are discussing two different topics.

1. a loose toilet is unsanitary, leaking sewage water into the floor or possibly into a ceiling or whatever area is below. That risks bacterial infections as well as mold, rot, insect damage. And of course odors.

2. sulphur odors in the water supply can come from a variety of sources - see details at

WATER ODOR DIAGNOSIS - SULPHUR

And

3. if you have any suspicion that your water supply is making you sick

- stop drinking it immediately

- contact a local water testing lab, pick up a sterile bottle, get the lab's advice on what to test and how to collect a water sample, and have the water tested -

keep us posted.

On 2022-08-18 by Cindy

I'm curious, 2 yrs ago I move into a suite and first my toilet moves around and I've been asking since moving in to fix and the well water isn't being maintained, it smells like sulfer when turned on and make me really sick and get really bad abdominal pain, even when boiled, whst can I do besides move as I can't afford to move? Ty

On 2022-08-17 Moderator reply: local help for emergency housing

I'm sure sorry but honestly from what I've seen, being forced to stay in a seriously contaminated environment can cause people to become hypersensitive and very sick.

Did you find any Colfax CA homeless or legal aid assistance agencies where you live?

Possible shelter:

Emergency Section 8 Housing

How do I apply for emergency Section 8 in California?

To apply for either type of help, visit your local Public Housing Agency (PHA).

For questions about HUD rental programs, including Housing Choice (Section 8) Vouchers, contact our Public and Indian Housing (PIH) Resource Center: Email us. Call toll-free (800) 955-2232.

On 2022-08-17 Reader follow-up: no government nor legal aid sources are helpful, no Section 8 Housing

Yes Sir and I've left messages and filed complaints all the way up to the DOJ "Housing strike force" whom advertises they are in place for just this kind of situation.

Legal aide is overwhelmed and Attorneys do not want to touch anything housing related because of the COVID regulations and this being California. I understand I'm screwed.

I've actually had a person tell me that I should be lucky that my rent is cheap for the area and square footage after trying to get help from a county agency.

Section 8 is 2 years minimum wait . Anyway thanks again hopefully maybe someday I can reach out and tell you it was resolved. Thanks for the informative site. I refer to it frequently.

[Ed. This reader exchange is part of a longer discussion found at HAZARD REDUCTION FOR UNSAFE SPACES]

On 2022-06-21 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - wear a N95 mask but you may need to move due to mold

@Donna,

Really sorry about this because there's no easy fix but if your home is making you sick and no immediate solution you need to be somewhere else. I'm afraid that you could get even more sick.

Even asking the health department to step in at this point might result in nothing more than them saying that the property is condemned and not safe to occupy.

If you have an n95 mask and you wear that as much of the time that you can that may reduce the level of spores that you breathe and might help a little bit.

But basically it sounds as if you need to be somewhere else

On 2022-06-21 by Donna

I am living in a rented mobile home and I'm living with mold one of my cats have already passed away and I am very very sick and they refuse to do anything about it

Mobile Home Mold (C) InspectApedia.com Donna

On 2022-06-20 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - contact your local department of health

@Barbara Dobash,

I don't have an easy nor guaranteed solution to problems like those you describe, but if you suspect that the rental unit, whether a room or a larger apartment, is un-healthy because of mold or other contaminants, and if the landlord refuses to respond, other than moving - which I understand is easier to say than to do - you might be able to get help from your local department of health.

Give your country and city of location if you need help finding out that contact information and we'll see if we can provide that.

On 2022-06-20 by Barbara Dobash

Question, when renting a room from person who was only one when emergency move occurred. Saw more damage caused by roof needing repairs, cellar way water flow not leak causing mold which determine pet gasping for air another biting where hair loss and anxiety.

Person renting also hospitalized low oxygen and had learn walk again. She has no lease and got behind. I get no govt free benefits over amt allotted. Yet under renting amt to qualify. I sleep on couch. What can be done

On 2022-05-25 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - get help by calling your local department of health

@Victor,

Have you tried contacting your local Health Department?

On 2022-05-25 by Victor

We need help

On 2022-04-30 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - focus first on your personal safety and health. Then Contact your Pennsylvania Department of Health

@Chuck Messimer,

1. Start with your doctor: review your health concerns and get her advice. I know it's a zillion times easier for me to say than for you to do, but if your home environment is really un-healthy for you (see what the doc thinks) and if the landlord won't fix it you should consider moving out. You may need to clean your stuff during the move, too, depending on just how much mold or moldy dust there is.

2. Have you tried asking your local health department for help? If the apartment is a health hazard they ought to be able to say so and to require the landlord to fix it. (But if extensive demolition and cleaning are needed you almost certainly can't stay in the apartment during that work)

Berks County
Reading State Office Building
625 Cherry St., Room 401
Reading, PA 19602
Phone: 610-378-4377
Fax: 610-621-5890

3. I'm not a lawyer but IMO in most jurisdictions even the most pro-landlord-lease language may require the landlord to provide the tenant with safe, habitable housing.

There may be a local legal aid society for Berks County PA - see

Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program (VIP)
(215) 523-9550
1500 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Personal Injury, Civil Rights, Consumer and Criminal

AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania
(215) 587-9377
1211 Chestnut St, Ste 600
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Personal Injury, Bankruptcy, Civil Rights and Consumer

thanks to https://www.justia.com/

BUT focus FIRST on your personal safety and health, not on getting into a fight with your landlord.

Keep us posted.

On 2022-04-30 by Chuck Messimer

I've been living in an apartment in berks county pennsylvania for over a year now with leaks, neighbors flooding there bathroom down on me and horrible mold. The walls and floor are deteriorating, pieces of the ceiling are falling in my food, my closet is dirt, there's a 2 foot hole in the ceiling into the neighbors bathroom and the landlord wont do anything.

I'm getting sick both mentally and physically. All my clothes and personal belongings have been ruined. Now I just lost my job of 14yrs because I was getting dizzy and tired and anxiety attacks to the point I would break down and cry. I fell into a awful depression. Been trying to find help but either I dont hear back or they wont help me because I dont have any money.

My whole life has been ripped apart and I cant keep going like this. I have nowhere to turn and nowhere to go. I just need help please

Berks County PA apartment leaks (C) InspectApedia.com Chuck

On 2022-04-12 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - flooded carpets and padding can't be cleaned: toss them out

@Jessie,

To be clear,

Sure, soaked carpets and padding need to be removed and tossed-out.

But beyond that, if water entered a wall, floor, or ceiling cavity, those areas have to be opened, cleaned, dried, and then inspected before the restoration of finish-surfaces.

On 2022-04-12 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - crystalline-like structures look like mineral salts or efflorescence

@Jessie,

The crystalline-like structures look to me like mineral salts or efflorescence - formed by a combination of moisture (*or leaks) and metal salts and corrosion on the metal surfaces in your photo - but I acknowledge that the photo is blurry so that's just a guess.

Compare what you are seeing with the photos and information given in detail at

EFFLORESCENCE SALTS & WHITE DEPOSITS

On 2022-04-12 by Jessie

I live on the 3rd floor of an apartment that had a mold issue discovered after a few months of very musty and foul odors in one of the vacant basement apartments by the fire department that another tennant had called. There was flooding going on for quite some time by a pipe that had backed up and the walls were covered floor to ceiling in every room with mold.

The next day the landlords extracted the carpets and did a once over the walls with bleach. A week after that they removed the carpet and left a portion of it in a pile in the livingroom area of the apartment.

About 2 years went by and I had noticed what I thought to be inspectors of some sort went into the basement apartment and a week after that the apartment was remediated and the entire place was gutted out completely. Just curious, since this unit sat for 2 years with nothing really done about the mold situation could it have spread beyond just that basement apartment?

Because nothing else was even inspected and the health issues me and my daughter have fall right in line and beyond with mold and mycotoxin symptoms that I have now been reading about. And if the mold could have spread beyond that one apartment, why didnt the inspectors look further and why was the rest of the tennants not notified that this was taking place?

And I also have this weird white stuff forming on the fins of my baseboard heater randomly all thru my apartment that I now have steamed for the 3rd time in the last 3 to 4 months.

And when I steam them I also take a tool to scrub out (yes I know its crazy) inbetween each aluminum fin and then wipe them all down above and under so they are completely cleaned after each time I've done this. I notice they start out as little dots and then within a week or so they have grown to fuzzy looking structures. Any idea what this could be?

Mineral salts or efflorescence (C) InspectApedia.com Jessie

On 2022-04-08 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - Many apartment concerns including plumbing, water damage, mold, foundation

@Winnie Madden,

Your photo and comments suggest a home that may indeed have multiple problems needing repair, some of which can involve health or safety. We've often seen such conditions when an owner has become no longer able or willing to maintain a property.

Our OPINION is that nevertheless a landlord has an obligation to provide safe functional habitable space to a tenant. I know it's easier for us to say than you to do, but if living in such a place is unsafe or un-healthy and if the owner isn't interested or willing or able to correct those conditions, you need to be somewhere else.

Some people may be at extra risk in such a building, such as asthmatics, elderly, disabled, infant, etc.

On 2022-04-08 by Winnie Madden

I'm in a basement apartment of a home that is recently on the market. I've relayed to the property management of my concerns( since November 2020 )but am told there isn't any issues he's aware of.

No drainage in bathtub ( pipe angles up) floor joists and walls sitting on dirt. Floors dropping. Ceiling and walls separating. Major water damage and mold between walls. No weeping tile or its filled. Porch sitting on ground. Concrete foundation on my half deteriorating. Floors Ice cold. As there's no proper foundation.

Many apartment concerns with plumbing, structure, foundation (C) Inspectapedia Winnie

On 2022-03-28 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - Newport News, Virginia Department of Health contact information

@Rose,

Two health districts serving the residents of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg, James City County and York County.

This web page has contact information for the Virginia health department in your area - https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/hampton-peninsula/

but what is surprising is that that health department contact information is a bit obscure.

Try this FIRST
416 J. Clyde Morris Blvd. Newport News VA 23601
(757) 594-7300

SECOND
Tel: (757) 262-2000
Virginia Department of Health, for the Newport News area
21 Enterprise Pkwy., Ste 100
Hampton, VA 23666

This page https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/health-department-locator/ lets you enter your zip code and purports to direct you to a Virginia health department near you.

THIRD OPTION: Virginia DOH in Richmond.
Deputy Commissioner for Community Health Services, Office of VDH Staff (804) 864-7000
Email: questions@vdh.virginia.gov
and ask them how to get help from your local health officials.

About your photo: there is no reasonable chance that the black debris or possibly mold visible on the drawer in your photo would explain the serious health symptoms you describe,

but be warned that if there were areas of your apartment that were wet and that were not investigated and cleaned, such as wall, ceiling, or floor cavities, or the un-sealed, often hard-to-access surfaces of cabinets and furniture were wet, then there could be a large, hidden mold reservoir that could indeed be a health hazard.

DO NOT rely on "mold tests" alone to investigate that hazard as tests alone are very unreliable.

On 2022-03-28 by Rose

My apartment was damaged by water some time around 9 March 2022.

Also, as long as I’ve been in the apartment I’ve had fierce headaches, bloody nose almost daily, breathing black dust that tears my eyes up and changing my breathing and voice with a constant cough. I would like to have someone from the health department in Newport News VA.

Virginia apartment mold concern (C) Inspectapedia Rose

 

On 2022-03-25 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - to get a government number to get help with moldy department, identify your location

@Renee Marquez,

We'd be glad to help you find the contact number for your local health department but first need to know your country and city of location.

On 2022-03-25 by Renee Marquez

Please help with a government number so I can get help with the mold issues in my apartment

On 2021-12-03 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - is what you see in your apartment really mold?

@Rose Gordon,

MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE

can help you and your maintenance people practice recognizing the difference between "hair dye spots" and mold.

Or you can collect a representative tape sample and have that analyzed by a mold test lab (about $50. U.S.)

Or post some sharp photos (one per comment) - it's really easy to recognize mold though you won't know its specific genera/species without a lab test - the species doesn't affect what's needed one bit:

Asked you to move? Perhaps the landlord wants you to leave before they suffer a health-related claim, or they figure you're difficult.

Perhaps you want to move if the building is moldy - else you'll need to take that question to an attorney.

On 2021-12-03 by Rose Gordon

It appears that there's mold in my apartment. I've addressed this with the maintenance and he calls it hair dying spots. But my son bought it to may attention several times because I have a cough that won't seem to go away.

Can you help me test for mold? Oh and because I complained several times before it got fixed, I've now been asked to move by February 1st, 2022

On 2021-11-02 by inspectapedia.com.moderator - Gainesville, Florida health department contact info

@Heather,

Assuming you're asking about the Gainesville Florida health department, contact the department directly to ask. Visit the Florida Department of Health's website (floridahealth.gov).

Or call
352-334-7900 ext 3335
313HIV@flhealth.gov

Mailing Address

224 SE 24th Street

Gainesville, FL 32641

On 2021-11-02 by Heather

Does the health department offer advise/assistance with mold inspection for gainesville apartment community?

On 2021-10-31 by inspectapedia.com.moderator - large areas of mold, more than 30 sqft., deserve professional clean-up

@Maryanne,

That certainly sounds unsafe for you. You should follow your doctor's advice.

On 2021-10-30 by Maryanne

There is mold all over my kitchen floor building mold black mold and in my bathroom and on my balcony and the air conditioner I I'm having breathing problems I already went to the allergy doctor could the board of health check it out

On 2021-08-02 by inspectapedia.com.moderator - when do I need a home inspection for mold?

@Brandon rosado,

The page top EXPERTS DIRECTORY can point you to some home inspectors (many of whom do mold inspections) and some environmental inspectors - maybe more costly.

See also

MOLD / ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERT, HIRE ? - figure out when to hire someone

On 2021-08-02 by Brandon rosado

In need of a home inspection. My land lord was supposed to fix my home for 2 years an hasn’t. Mold growing an cabinets can’t be used. Rodents in an out walls

On 2021-07-23 by danjoefriedman (mod) - contact the department of health

@T,

You want to find out for yourself if the health department will help you

On 2021-07-22 by T

Can anyone help me out current tenant only been here for 2months and my apartment is covered in this black dust no one knows what it is mold test was done she keeps ignoring me when I ask for the results

I have a 2 year old that suffered from a Respiratory Infection and has now been diagnosed with asthma I also have asthma and have been having symptoms of coughing , dry eyes and mouth she also let me know that the township that I’m in all works together so I am looking for outside help I also with held my rent for this month and she sent me a late notice and late fee.

On 2021-06-12 by danjoefriedman (mod) - health department inspection for pests: bugs, rats, roaches

@Sylvia Reyna,

Your health department can inspect the building for pests and they should have people who are competent to recognize mold by visual inspection. No test is necessary. Testing to identify the species of mold wouldn't change what's needed one bit.

On 2021-06-11 by Sylvia Reyna

Can the Health Department test for mold in a wall? I manage a fast food restaurant and we have an infestation of gnats and rats. We are in a strip center. I need help fast or I am going to get fired. Our pest control has stated the is a BUILDING issue, not just us.

On 2021-05-15 - by (mod) - health risks when there is a sewage spill or backup

@Kristen,

Yes, though it will be small comfort, situations like the one you described happen all the time. That is a person who doesn't really know what to do just put in charge of a water damage, sewage damage, or mold contamination cleanup project. The health concerns in the case you describe include pathogens from sewage bacteria as well as mold contamination.

What's needed now is an expert visual inspection of the property that is very thorough. The inspection needs to determine where additional cleaning or Demolition and cleaning are required.

The inspection might be supplemented by tests for for bacterial contamination or sewage pathogens as well as mold. But a test alone would not be sufficient. What's needed is to identify the areas where cleaning is required or disinfection is required.

The other questions you raised about personal health need to be reviewed by your doctors.

On 2021-05-15 by Kristen

I am currently living in a home that is 125 years old. We had a sewage leak in the bathroom. Of this home that was turned into four apartments. We had the landlord get his boyfriend. Not a proper contractor, come in to do repairs to the bathroom. Where the sewage leak was. He decided to cut into black moldy wet soaked sewage floors. With a circular saw. While doing this did not put up any proper plastic tarps.

Needless to say, the apartment quickly filled with a dark cloud that set all fire alarms off. We then new this had to be unsafe. The guy thought it was no big deal. We decided to hire a air Quality company for testing.

Air Quality and swabs. There were high concentrations of the mould species Stachybotrys. Which was so bad it stated That it was unsafe for cohabitation We got the city involved. But do to Covid. It really has been unbelievable. What has gone on

We live in the city of Barrie Ontario. A mold remediation company was called in. But they didn’t clean properly or even use any air purifiers. Then the landlord used a house appraisal company for her air Quality report. Which made no sense. It said that the air outside was the same as the air Quality inside. Basically in a nut shell. The city actually excepted this test as a pass. Our family especially me have been sick. For a couple of years. I had no idea. We had rights as tenants

. I was so nieve I have had our very repretable air Quality company in here. That I found on a website. They do usually do big jobs like hospitals. So I hired them for a new report. Since the supposed mold remediation. We have all had more symptoms.

The city is doing nothing right now. But I will be sending them the new report again. When I receive it this Monday. Not to mention that during the remodel of the bathroom. We were left exposed also to fibre glass insulation for a week in the bathroom with no vapour barriers. They have on top of this all. Been coming into my apartment with zero Covid protocols. The health board says it’s not there duristiction

Then the city says it’s not there’s either. Have you ever even heard of such a situation. Any help or comments with this would be greatly appreciated.

On 2020-11-26 - by (mod) - don't just treat mold with bleach

Bleaching mold is fundamentally wrong, can not fix a mold contamination problem, and can leave toxic (even if "dead") mold spores and particles in a building.

The proper repair requires

Find and remove all of the mold contamination - including in building cavities

Clean hard surfaces that can be cleaned

DIspose of soft materials that are moldy and can't be cleaned (carpets, insulation, drywall)

Find and fix the leaks that caused the mold.

You may need help from your health department.

Watch out: prolonged exposure to mold contamination can cause a person to become sensitized and very sick or worse even if she had no reaction initially; and individual's sensitivity to mold varies considerably so someone who enters a moldy apartment and who is at extra risk (elderly, infant, immune-compromised, asthmatic, allergic) could have an immediate and extremely serious reaction.

On 2020-11-26 by Lisa albrecht

Ive been living with blackmold here in my apt for 10 years they havent fixed it every year they spray bleach on it then paint over it and it still comes back its in the wall

and theres a water leak under the building they wont fix but charge us all 90 dollars a month for water amd 60 dollars a month for sewer

there is also a coin operated washer dryer room so were paying for everybodys clothes to wash its not right i been a good tennant for 10 years goin on 11 never been late on my rent once never had 1 complaint and i have to live this way its so sad

On 2020-09-15 - by (mod) - black water leaking into apartment

Alan

I can't know what's in the water you mention but certainly any leak into a building is likely to cause problems such as mold growth or unsafe electrical wiring or damage to the building heating, air conditioning or other equipment;

Watch out: the water leaking into the apartment is sewage there is a serious bacterial and pathogenic health hazard.

If management refuses to respond to written notice of a leak and possible health and safety concern your girlfriend's mom may need to ask for help from her local department of health.

On 2020-09-15 by Alan V

My girlfriend's mom lives in an apartment complex.They have water coming inside,which is black,and manager said won't fix.My question is,?Is this dangerous?and what can she do,,?

On 2020-04-30 - by (mod) - questionable mold cleanup by landlord, charged to subsequent tenant

Ebony

In order of priority, here are my thoughts

1. Watch out: Safety: we need to know that the mold problem was addressed properly.

That means not something superficial like painting over moldy surfaces.

Moldy drywall gets removed along with other moldy materials that can't be cleaned, such as insulation or carpeting; exposed surfaces are cleaned,
and the cause of the mold is identified and fixed.

I raise question #1 because the cost you cite sounds lower than what would be charged by a professional mold remediation company - someone who'd be called in if there was more than 30 sq.ft. of contiguous mold contamination in the first place - that is, unless the landlord has expert, trained mold remediators on staff.

2. If the mold was present before you occupied the apartment, a claim that you caused it is not reasonable. If the landlord elects to ignore solid documented evidence that you can offer, then your recourse will be either to move or to go to small claims court.

Unfortunately I worry that even if you're successful in a small claims court decision, your landlord may make life difficult. So an amicable agreement would be far preferable.

Keep me posted.

On 2020-04-30 by Ebony

There is mold all across 2 walls in my apartment and part of my roof. I called the maintenance department of my complex and they came and rectified it. When I logged in online a few weeks later, there was a charge for the repair of the mold.

The complex is claiming that the mold is my fault hence the charge, but other online reviews from previous residents all support the existence of mold in the complex. I am trying to figure out what my options are as mold remediation is upwards of $750.

On 2020-04-03 - by (mod) - use of extension cords in a rental apartment kitchen risks electric shock or death

Linda

Watch out: An extension cord running multiple kitchen appliances at once is a possible fire and shock hazard.

Mold and roaches are possible health hazards, even if the total quantity is no large - we don't know how big these problems are without further investigation.

You don't give your country and city but in most parts of the world and certainly in North America and Europe and Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, etc., while they don't have to provide much, a landlord is usually obligated to provide safe, habitable housing to the tenant.

If your home is not safe and habitable (health hazards, fire hazards, electrical safety hazards) then if the landlord can't respond to those conditions you may need to ask for help from your health department, building department, or local legal aid society.

On 2020-04-01 by Linda

My apartment smells of mold or mildew and my stove smells of roach residue. I have ask my landlord about these issues but he doesn’t seem to believe me. Also I am having to operate several kitchen appliances on one outlet with the use of an extension cord.

When I discussed this issue with landlord, his response was it’s way too expensive and I’m nit tearing out the wall to redo the electrical. I have one GFI less that 18” directly Iberia my kitchen sink.

On 2020-03-24 - by (mod) - sewage leak is unsafe

Watch out: A sewage leak requires removal of sewage-wet materials that can't be effectively-cleaned (carpet, carpet padding, drywall, insulation, etc)

Disinfection of the affected surfaces

Repair of the cause

Anything less leaves a probable health hazard in the building.

On 2020-03-24 by Anonymous

I moved in to an apartment over at Waterford Loop, square I have had nothing but problems since I have lived here I was in the hospital with bronchial problems they want me to go see a long specialist

I had sewage leak into my home into the bathroom the bathtub my carpet in the closet they didn’t do anything except replace the padding underneath it and clean the carpet now I have a leak coming down my walls from upstairs my ceiling looks like it is about to collapse

On 2020-03-14 - by (mod) - Mycotoxins in apartment after mold remediation

Herald

If there are harmful levels of mold or mold-products such as mycotoxins after a mold remediation then the job was not done properly - either the mold reservoirs were not all located and removed or the removal was incomplete.

You should make final payment on the work before the work is complete.

On 2020-03-14 by Herald

Mycotoxins in apartment after mold remediation have exhausted all funds what can be done

On 2019-12-16 by (mod) where to get help from a local legal aid attorney

Courtney

It sounds as if you need help from a local legal aid attorney or possibly your health department. If your DOH agrees that the apartment is moldy and unsafe to occupy that can force action on the part of management.

Similarly if there is a rotting floor that may be an immediate life safety hazard that your building department may be willing to inspect and cite.

See LEGAL AID ATTORNEY HELP SOURCES

On 2019-12-1 by Courtney Property management failed to make all repairs

Property management for two months have failed to make all repairs i still have mold and now charging me for 1750 damages only damages i made were two small rectangles at bottom of wall in kitchen and bathroom because both had severe mold in the drywall.

They patched those holes and painted walls. Have rotting floor with mold in entryway what can i do

On 2019-12-14 - by (mod) - if you smell sewer gas or methane the buidloing may be unsafe

Kalani

Watch out: If you smell sewer gases in the building then the potential hazards are more than inability to use the bathroom; there is a potential of a methane gas explosion and a potential for harmful pathogens or bacteria in the property.

On 2019-12-14 by Kalani

I would like to know if there is no sewage actually backing up into the house however there is a pungent smell that creates the ability to vomit and or the need to immediately leave the premises based on the smell of sewage, not only is it strong enough to create a natural bodily function to toxins but it also makes a inability to use the bathroom During certain hours of the day without covering your face.

On 2019-11-21 by Anonymous

Who can I contact to get my renter townhouse to check for mold. I keep smelling a stranger oder

Moldy apartment (C) Daniel Friedman

On 2019-08-16 by (mod) - problems with urine contamination - research on infection spread through urine

Human urine or animal urine? Healthy human or a person who's sick.

A person with a staph infection could excrete staph in urine. Here are examples of supporting research:

On 2019-08-16 by Carole

suspected carrier of methicillin resistant stsphylococcus aureus (MRSA0) is it possible to contract this from contaminated urine soaked cabnet that apt has still not removed even though shelves are warped from the septic water that caused my ceiling to expand 1' down from ceiling& across half ceiling in kitchen before it collapsed& flooded my cabnet,counters drywall& tile.

Nothing has been tested or sanitized as far as throwing away contaminated cabnet& counter where urine soaked it due to the busted pipe above ceiling& maintenance not wanting to deal with it for 3 days.

Question being cant MRSA be caused by septic contamination in home?

On 2019-06-26 by (mod) - have you tried giving your local health department a call?

Inhu

It sounds as if you are looking for help from your local Health Department. Have you tried giving them a call? That's usually the best approach for someone who's afraid that their rental unit is unhealthy.

On 2019-06-25 by Inhumane living conditions

Please contact me. I'm so scared

On 2019-03-06 by (mod) - "black mold" is a mistake: mold of any color can be harmful

Jerry

black mold" is a dangerous misconception fired-up by some vendors and journalists. There are harmful molds of just about any color and texture, and some, such as Aspergillus, produce small spores that are more-easily airborne, are breathed deep into the lungs, and that are probably more harmful to more people than most popular "toxic black molds"

Try the Experts Directory at the top of any of our pages

And see your doctor before doing anything else

On 2019-03-06 by Jerry Ervin

How do I get help for the Black Mold causing breathing problem
..and it's getting worse and headaches really bad.

On 2018-11-08 by (mod) - Find a health inspector - how to contact the health department for F/N, (First Nations Authority, BC, Canada and others)

Making the house warmer AND getting in inspection from the health center makes sense Nolan.

IN any case give her a call HEALTH CENTRE CONTACTS: Office 306-781-4833 Fax 306-781-7063. Director of Health Services: Judy Sugar

And let us know what happens.

Besides calling the health department for F/N, I'd be glad to help you sort out what you can do yourself or have friends or family do to help you make your house warmer.

In general the first priority is not adding insulation, it is finding and fixing air leaks and drafts - often around windows and doors. Those repairs are not expensive and can often be done even using makeshift materials.

If you want to discuss that further you can post comments here, or a photo of a problem area or of the home exterior (use the Add Image button to add one image per comment) and I can perhaps offer specific suggestions.

On 2018-11-07 by Nolan sugar

I live on piapot f/N and my house is so clod and old with many problems so i need a health inspector to come look at my place before it gets colder plz im a singal father of 2 boys

On 2015-02-25 by (mod) - damp moldy apartment - respiratory trouble

Nel

I think I'd start by looking for the water: is this a problem of leaks in the building, high indoor humidity, bad ventilation, or an unsual indoor moisture source;

I'd follow up with a visual inspection for mold or other allergens.

Mold on tubs is not likely to be the issue but might be symptomatic of bad venting.

On 2015-02-25 by Nel

my apartment stays damp and there is mold/mildew around the windows, on the walls in the ceiling of the bathrooms and around the water faucet of the tubs

. I have noticed we have constant coughs and trouble breathing while inside and especially through out the night. My grandson had now develop a cough when he comes over. I clean but I notice it rapidly returns and I cannot not use the seem to get a handle on this growth. What should I do?

On 2014-11-24 by (mod) -

Chelsi

Perhaps you want to check with your attorney about vacating the building and breaking the lease. But beware, you may also need to clean your possessions before moving them to a new home.

See LEGAL AID ATTORNEY HELP SOURCES

On 2014-11-21 by Chelsi Wartner

I'm renting a house in brainerd mn. It is so full of mold! Windows walls floors. It is making my family sick, and I have an infant. Landlord knows about issue and won't do anything. We cannot live there anymore. My infant is so sick I need to get her out now. What do I do???

On 2014-08-26 by (mod) -

Cara if you have to hire your own mold inspector take a look at the EXPERTS DIRECTORY link at the top of this page to find mold inspectors, or check your local telephone book or online for your city. Don't hire someone who just does a "test"

You might also want to see this article that describes how to decide that hiring someone is appropriate

https://inspectapedia.com/sickhouse/IAQ_Investigation.php

On 2014-08-25 by Cara

I live in income based apartments and I have two children that are sick often with upper respiratory issues.

I asked my apartment if they do mold inspections and they told me if I had mold I would smell the mildew, mold smell. I don't smell anything, but want to get an inspection done. How or who do I go through to get some answers?

On 2014-08-19 by concerned

Yeah. The drywall was grey in areas where they were removing it

. There was a spot inside the wall they never did anything with that looked like it had mold at some time, but had dried out or something. It was just a white ring shape. They cut out a large chunk and just replaced it, then put plaster over it.

However, the leaking from the AC that caused the whole problem still isn't being addressed, and it's still leaking. For sure the damage would have been smaller than 30 sqft, but I'm beginning to think it's a problem with the AC unit itself, possibly mold that's gotten inside of it.

Whenever it's on the whole house is filled with warm, musty air. The moment I got some damp aid products to help remove some of the humidity her breathing got better and the air quality felt better, too.
I'm just not sure if I should take this as far as calling a professional.

The manager and maintenance men definitely seem to be trying to deny any kind of mold or large renovation. She's had this going on for a month or so now, she's 75 and not in the best health, and it's just frustrating me that I can't help her or move her.

On 2014-08-19 by (mod) -

If water came through a drywall-covered ceiling there's a good chance of a mold reservoir in the ceiling cavity.

On 2014-08-19 by concerned. about mold in Arizona

She was in the building during work. The maintenance men who work there honestly aren't the best people they could be. Another corner the manager tries to cut. It was/is a small one in the ac unit. The ac was leaking water so much it caused a hole to erupt with water from her ceiling. It took them about a week and a half to get completely fixed.

One day they came in and cut a hole in that part of the ceiling (I actually have pictures of when that happened, I was furious when I found out her apartment had been sitting like that for 3 days.) Then they patched it up, with her there not wearing anything, and never did any kind of work on the ac unit. It's still leaking horribly.

Just not through the ceiling anymore. Into a little metal box that sits underneath the unit. Since he did all that work, about 2 or 3 weeks ago, the house has gotten increasingly musty and humid.

I live in az, and currently it's monsoon season, about the only time it gets humid in this state. Her house has been more humid than outside almost every time I go over there. I'm concerned for her health, and she's one of those people who believes doctors are the root of all evil. I can't get her to see one, but she's getting upset that her concerns about her apartment aren't being met.

On 2014-08-19 by (mod) -

Concerned,

You're right to ask the questions you do, but not quite right in guessing at proper procedure.

If a building has a large area of harmful mold contamination that needs to be removed and the cause fixed. And if there was such a cleanup process performed, an elderly, fragile occupant should not be in the building at all during that work, and should not return until the building and its contents have successfully passed a mold clearance test.

I can't say from your note if the problem is a small one (less than 30 sqft of contiguous mold contamination) that can be handled by a handyman, or a large one (more than 30 sqft) that required professional treatment.

On 2014-08-19 by concerned relative

Hello, My grandmother lives in a section 8 house that is supposed to be regularly inspected and maintained. She has not had a visit like this in her apartment in the last 3-4 years. Presently, she has been dealing with severe respiratory issues (frequent smoker, but these are brand new and putting a few dampaid products in her home to get rid of some of the musty smell and humidity has helped her.)

There was a leak from her AC unit that they "fixed" a while back, after fixing it the humidity and musty smell in the house got significantly worse though.

My question, I guess, if they saw and did not properly address this problem (she also mentioned that she thought it was mold to one of the maintenance men working on her house, who blew it off and ignored her.

Also didn't have her wear a mask inside while he was doing all this renovating after the huge leak) and she's been having health issues related to it, can she sue the apartment complex or manager?

I feel like given it's government property and they're held to higher standards this kind of thing never should have happened. The managers have always been known to focus more on themselves and less on tenants though. Please answer asap.


Question: do these mold test results for my apartment show a problem? Now what?

I have been sick from a mold related illness since June of last year. I live in an apartment with my husband and 21 year old son. All of us have respiratory problems and I became violently ill because of my exposure and the amount of time spent in my bedroom with the vent closed and my door shut.

My landlord did have a test done and the company that did it put everything in my bedroom under aspergillus/penicillium and the count done on February 11th was 633 for our bedroom.

Since Aspergillus is only supposed to be outside in the Spring, Summer and Fall, the man told my husband that 150 was high a normal count usually is about 50.

Our bedroom started leaking soon after moving in and the walls which are covered with paneling if you hit them you can here the plaster falling. I went into the crawl space above our bedrooms and the wood is rotted except for the beams. All of us have been running low grade fevers for a long time.

My husband and I are disabled, my husband with a back injury and I with Fibromyalgia.

I had mentioned something to my landlord last spring about mold and how it was affecting my son's health.

The only time it leaked into our bedroom is when it was a windy rain. But who knows how long it was leaking into the crawl space.

My landlord lied to me about having a new roof put on, the man that just fixed the flashing around the chimney that was supposedly causing the problem they just fixed and he said it was an old roof.

I have never been in a place with mold before and did not realize the dangers and when I became very ill had forgot about the mold. I ended up in the hospital twice all of my tests came out negative.

The second time they did exploratory surgery and removed my gall bladder and appendix. This is only part of what happened and it would take pages to continue. We are currently looking for another place to live, but where this is an old roof, I do not want anyone else getting sick.

If I was an elderly person or someone with a compromised immune system I would have died. I now have asthma in which I have never had this before even when I have smoked for 40 years. I have never not been able to breathe. I have been sleeping in the living room for about a month now and my concentration is better and I do not get dizzy much.

This was also affecting my skin, where my skin would turn red with bumps usually my face and scalp as these were exposed the most. My husband is now getting little bumps on him on his torso and legs because he is still sleeping up there and sleeps naked.

I am going to enclose the report from the other company and it does not seem he did everything as their are leakage spots all on my ceiling and they did try to cover some by nailing tiles on the other tiles. I do not know what else to do and need advice or help. Could you please help? - J.G.

Reply: Start by following your doctor's advice; mold counts without an inspection are confusing.

This case is far too important in health and secondarily in possible costs to you for someone to pretend to diagnose or for which to make specific advice for via email.

You should start with advice from your doctors about your health condition and the risks from possible mold exposure, and you should keep your landlord informed about what you are told.

Your physician should be the starting guide about what sorts of environmental contaminants are most likely to be a problem for your family members, with attention to those. Or she/he may refer you to a physician who specializes in environmental medicine if s/he agrees that your environment is a likely cause or contributor to the complaints you describe.

RENTERS & TENANTS ADVICE for UNSAFE or UNHEALTHY HOME has some general advice for tenants where mold is a problem

Your description of what sounds like a wet crawl space is a strong indicator that there is risk of a significant indoor mold problem in the building.

An expert impartial and in-depth inspection of the home for mold or other obvious hazards may be helpful. And in our - in renters advice you'll see that we warn about moving: your items may need to be cleaned before bringing them into the new space so you don't import of moldy dust and debris into your new home.

Question: we have mold problems in our home, and rats and other stuff

(Apr 29, 2011) Daniel Charvet said: we are having medical issues due to mold in our home.

(Aug 12, 2011) joy said:

I had a professional come out and inspect my apartment for mold and sure enough he found plenty.

But when I gave the report to my landlord, He said I had to hire a Lawyer, because he wasn't going to help me at all.

All I want is to have him pay for my moving expenses so I can get out of here before any of us get really sick. I had my kids go stay with there brother and I have packed everything up to move. But he will not help me with the expense. What can I do?

(Jan 31, 2013) Mercedes said:

I've been in my duplex now 7 months and first notice mold on my walls like on the 3rd month. I told my landlord about when he came to collect the rent he walked inside he seen it and then just quickly said "oh yea you just got to open your windows up to let the place air out and put a little bit of bleach on it and it will go away".

So I did we cleaned the whole house.But now we still have the mold all over the walls again the doors almost all my stuff in the house like,clothes,shoe s,stuffed toys,chair,sofa,and table

.I have 5 more moths left on my lease and i have a 5 yr old child with asthma i am 5 months pregnant and i've been getting sick constantly with congestion cough sore throat.and so has he i meant to move because i cant deal with this problem anymore but i would have to break my lease any advice please I' m desperate to know what to do. Thank you.

(Apr 4, 2014) Delores Clements said:

My daughter just moved from a house that she had rented for two years. Numerous times, she asked her landlord to do something about all the black mold that was in the house, eventually covering everything. Her young daughter was constantly sick so she moved.

The landlord would not do anything to get rid of the problem except spray bleach on the ceilings or in the windows. Can something be done so other unsuspecting people will not have to live in the mold as she did?

4/25/2015 Anonymous said:

I live in a trailer that has rats bad they have eaten wholes through the walls and through my furniture that isn't even paid for the smoke alarms don't work and if u leave a cup of maybe juice out for a full day on the table mold grows on it

Reply:

Take a look at MOLD / ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERT, HIRE ? for help in deciding how to proceed.

Joy, my OPINION (and I am not a lawyer) is that if you have notified your landlord in writing, not just orally, then s/he has some serious liabilities lurking should the landlord do nothing about a mold problem and should some future tenant get sick. Your attorney should advise you on how to proceed.

See LEGAL AID ATTORNEY HELP SOURCES

But keep your priorities clear

#1. personal health and safety

#2. don't import moldy dust and debris into the new home - clean your stuff: wash, wipe, or launder or dryclean

Delores,

The article above was my best attempt at answering your question.

Considering that your daughter has already moved out of the premises, and that you describe what is an incompetent approach to mold remediation, and especially if your daughter has reason to know (by having seen it) or think (by health complaints, building leak history or other evidence) that there is a large mold contamination problem in the building,

it would be reasonable to alert your local health department *in writing* calmly, politely, pointing out the facts and adding the risk that occupancy by a new tenant could be dangerous, especially for someone who is elderly, immune-compromised, asthmatic, allergic, or infant.

You are welcome to print and attach copies of pages from InspectApedia or my note to you in information you provide to authorities.

A second concern is that if your daughter's furnishings or clothing were exposed to high levels of old, those items should be cleaned lest she import a high level of problematic spores or allergens or other particles into her new home.

Keep us posted - your updates may assist other readers.

Anon: about those rats and mold:

If the landlord is not helping with site cleanup and providing professional rat exterminator services it may be appropriate to ask your health department for help.

Question: inspect for mold before signing a lease?

(Aug 24, 2012) Amanda said:

im planning to move come next week into an apartment (my first one) should i request a mold inspection befor sighning a lease. granted i can only inspect so much, i cant see through the walls or ceiling.

Reply:

I would start with an inspection of the property in general, the building outdoors, and indoors in all accessible areas. If you see a history of leaks, water stains, flooding or visible mold that'd be a red flag.

Reader Question: I need advice about my moldy apartment in Sydenham, Victoria Australia

I'm in Sydenham Victoria and urgently need this house inspected. My baby and I are sick and have all mentioned problems in / by the articles [read at InspectApedia.com]. The ceiling exhaust of [...] is growing mold and its barely breathable. Please help. Thank you.

Reply: how to decide if it's safe to remain in a mold-suspect or visibly moldy rental home

I'm sorry to read of the illness and mold problems you and your family are facing. You need to call a local surveyor or your local health department. Onsite inspections are not something we can offer and unfortunately I don't have listings for Australia (where I take it you are located).

Indeed if there is more than ten square meters of moldy material in your home, you certainly do not need an inspection to determine that the environment is unsafe and needs professional cleaning and mold remediation. And if you have reason to believe the environment is making you or your baby sick you should not be there. I understand that it is far too easy for a stranger to send an email saying that the safe thing to do is move out, and that it's far more costly and disruptive to you.

Check with your doctor

Start with a visit to the pediatrician and to your own doctor for advice. If they agree that your home is at high risk of making you ill you need to find temporary, even emergency quarters. Continued exposure to harmful mold not only is a health risk, it can increase individual sensitivity, thus risk increases over time. Especially I'd be worried for a baby, an elderly person, an asthmatic, or someone who is for other reasons of fragile health in the first place, but even a person in normal health can be at risk.

If you are renting, see RENTERS & TENANTS: MOLD ADVICE - where we give advice for renters on dealing with a moldy rental home.

How to check with your health department

To contact your local health officials or health ministry you can find contact information from your telephone book, online, or from any local government office.

For Sydenham Victoria where you are located, your ministry of health can be contacted at

[Ed. This reader question and our reply are also posted at MOLD SAFETY ADVICE for TENANTS]



...

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