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Mold contamination © D Friedman at InspectApedia.com Legal Help for Renters
Find a lawyer to help with health, safety, moving, landlord disputes

How to find an attorney to help you deal with an unsafe or unhealthy rental home if your landlord does not respond to your request for repairs.

The resources listed on this page help allow you to search for legal help state by state.

This article series discusses whether or not a tenant should call their local building department, local health department officials or other local authorities about 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.

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

Where to Get Legal Aid from an Attorney

If you need help in resolving a tenant-landlord dispute or if your landlord won't respond to unsafe or unhealthy conditions in your rental home, the usual places you would go for help are listed

at RENTERS & TENANTS ADVICE for UNSAFE or UNHEALTHY HOME

Look locally for a legal aid attorney or office,

or if you can't find local help, see the legal aid and attorney sources we list below.

Sources of Legal Aid: Inexpensive or Free Help for Renters

The phrase "legal aid" usually means that clients who qualify can get free legal assistance for civil legal issues such as evictions, utility shut-off, and other civil law issues.

Below we provide links to free legal aid sources in the U.S. If you don't quickly find someone who can help you by following the links for your state at one of the organizations below, try another.

For example, even if there no free legal aid association in your state or near-enough to you, you may find that in a city near you there is a law school that has a free legal aid program.

Do-It-Yourself Legal Forms

How to Contribute Other Legal Aid Links

These legal resource links were accurate as of March 2023. We would be grateful to learn of additional useful legal resources to add to this page. Also, if you find a mistake with any of them, we would appreciate knowing this.

To provide new resource suggestions or to report a correction, please CONTACT US by EMAIL at any time.

How to Choose a Lawyer to Help You

ASK QUESTIONS To help determine whether the attorney has a good understanding of your situation, and to understand whether you can afford an attorney, you should consider asking these questions:

Watch out: Beware of some websites offering "free legal aid" online but whose operators are actually going to charge you a fee.

On 3/23/2023, we tried a search for "legal aid for poor person in a trailer park" - results are shown below.

We simply tried asking the 'persons' responding in a "chat window" for the website justanswer.com who advertise:

Retainer-Free Legal Assistance - Online. On-Demand. 24/7.

"Could or should we send our readers there when free legal aid is needed?" It appeared our question was not really understood.

Even to answer THAT question, we were told to pay a $25. retainer fee after which we could repeat that question to their attorney. That was a disappointing result.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Search result for

Public exposure of unsafe conditions

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.)

LEGAL DISCLAIMER The content on this page provides general consumer information. It is not legal advice or regulatory guidance. This information may include links or references to third-party resources or content. We do not endorse the third-party or guarantee the accuracy of this third-party information. There may be other resources that also serve your needs.

 


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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2023-03-23 by InspectApedia Editor (mod) - where to get legal help from an attorney when the landlord won't respond to dangerous living conditions

@Richard,

Please see our reply to Tamara below since the information is relevant for you also.

@Tamara,

You don't give your country and city, so our advice is, with apology, a bit general.

In many communities there is a legal aid society and attorneys who will work pro-bono (no fee) to help people who can't otherwise afford a lawyer.

If you can find such an office or person where you live, she or he can review your lease if you have one and in any case can tell you what local authorities such as local health department or renters protection agency are available to help assure that the landlord meets what are the usual absolute minimum requirements:

a rental home has to be safe and habitable.

Watch out: First, the most immediate concern is the risk of serious injury, even death, if someone falls into a septic tank.

So if there is any sign of failure outside such as sewage at ground surface or an open tank or a tank with a flimsy cover, rope off the area, keep everyone away, and notify the landlord in writing that there is an immediate, serious life-safety concern.

Similarly, if the floors in your home allow someone to fall through - also risking injury, you need to keep them out of that space.

Third, if there is raw sewage in or around the home, that too is an immediate and serious health hazard.

In most communities, a local health department will agree to send someone to inspect the conditions at the property and to require the landlord to address these hazards.

Richard and Tamara both:

I apologize, knowing it's far easier for us to say "just move" than it will be for you to move, but certainly, if even the most basic life-safety conditions are not being met where you live, putting your health and safety at risk, you would perhaps be better off even in emergency shelter.

If you want to name the specific country and city and landlord and trailer park you may do so here - keep to the facts. You can also post photos of conditions - one photo per comment, as many comments and thus photos as you wish.

Sometimes letting the sunlight of public exposure shine on unsafe and improper conditions will help spur a property owner to get going on making their property safe and habitable.

Where to get legal aid - an attorney to help you

Since we don't know your location - city, county, state, country - these resources allow you to search for legal help state by state.

Plug in your address and get local legal aid resources:

Live links to sources of free legal aid (pro bono legal services) are given at the top of this page.

What to ask the attorney

To help determine whether the attorney has a good understanding of your situation, and to understand whether you can afford an attorney, you should consider asking these questions:

How much of your work involves this legal problem and representing people like me?

Do you charge an up-front fee?

Will I have to pay even if I lose my case in court?

If I can’t afford to hire you, can you refer me to a consumer law attorney who may not charge up-front fees?

On 2023-03-23 by Richard - I’m disabled and I can’t use my restroom and the landlord will not fix it and I can’t move

I live in the same trailer park and I’m disabled and I can’t use my restroom and she will not fix it and I can’t move because I am spending so much on repair but I can not afford to repair the septic

On 2023-03-23 by Tamara - open sewage, bathroom floor collapse, landlord locks tenants out of house

Hello my kids live in a trailer park and the landlord has always done illegal things like locking them out of the house just to when they did not get any fiction notice or a written notice

and the landlord well refuses to fix the fix the septic tank and sewage is coming up

they cannot use either bathroom when you walk outside it smells like raw sewage another thing is my son actually fell through the floor because of the gray water has ruined the floor in the bathroom and he fell through

they’re struggling kids and having a hard time and what can they do

On 2022-12-31 by InspectApedia Publisher (mod) - sewage backups are a serious health hazard to everyone

@Pryscilla L.S.,

Sewage backups are a serious health hazard to everyone, perhaps more-so for children. You can not successfully clean a sewage-contaminated carpet, carpet padding, nor wet drywall or wall cavities nor the space under cabinets.

The carpet and padding should be removed, any wet wall cavities opened, spaces under cabinets opened, and all of those need to be professionally cleaned and disinfected.

I suspect from your description that there is a building drain blockage "downstream" from your kitchen drain lines and that sewage backs up and exits through the dishwasher as there is no one-way drain valve to prevent that problem.

It seems likely that your home is a health hazard and I worry that in my OPINION the longer you and your family continue to occupy that space the greater the risk of serious health issues, infections, etc.

I understand that it's too easy for a distant stranger to say "move out" but you should

  1. Consult with your doctors and follow their advice
  2. If you have notified your landlord and maintenance people of this unsafe environment in writing and get no immediate response (such as moving you to a safe sanitary alternative location while the necessary cleanup and repairs are done)

    you may have to move on your own ASAP to a clean, sanitary location; you may need to clean any questionable items that you move out of the sewage contaminated apartment
  3. Seek help from your local department of health

Please keep me posted. While it will perhaps upset those involved, sometimes identifying specific companies and individuals and locations where a landlord leaves tenants in a sewage-contaminated area (provided your description is accurate) will, by letting the sunlight of public awareness shine on the problem, prompt more-rapid response.

Do keep us posted.

(Our comments box code won't permit posting videos but you can indeed post individual images, one per comment, as many comments and thus images as you need).

On 2022-12-31 by Pryscilla L.S.

I've had sewage back up into my dishwasher SIX MONTHS AGO and have a 3 year old daughter who just turned 3. I've contacted my landlord several times and maintenance said I was missing ball to drain her order one and put in for professional carpet cleaning due to the fact it leaked on opposite side of dishwasher which is in my living room onto carpet and baseboards now black mold.

Nothing came of it. Dishwasher repeatedly overflowing onto kitchen floor. Can't do dishes everytime dishwasher overflows that God awful smell potent nastiness. My apt smells soooo bad it's unreal. They said they were going to replace it three months ago and I've asked five times since and still he ting that they ordered it.

We had a inspection for housing and city and my landlord acted like this was all new news to her and blamed maintenance. The last couple times it overflowed it was filled with black mold. I had to clean it up.

Now it's straight sewage water sm lls like a very potent rotten egg and my daughter been sick several several times upper respiratory infection three times eye infection and sinus infection which I also had. It was so awful.

Some days it seems to be getting better like not potent but other days I can see fumes in the air above my sink md garbage disposal. I really really need help please I feel like I'm being punked. I can't believe how neglected I been. It's crazy. Please help us. I have videos I'll post

On 2022-12-08 by InspectApedia (Editor) - sewage spills and water in crawl space are serious concerns

@Tammy G,

I agree that you have described some serious building safety and health concerns as I've annotated in your photo below.

There are at least these:

  1. sewage spills in a crawl space

     risk movement of pathogens (viruses, bacteria etc) up into the living space above - that can cause serious illness
  2. water in a crawl space

     risks mold growth on various surfaces that can also be a health risk and that can move, in the form of spores or mold volatile organic compounds (VOCs - gases or "mold smells") up into the occupied space

If you have notified your site management of these possible, even likely, hazards (quote the above) and they refuse to reply your options are to move out quickly to protect your health or to stay, accepting that risk, and ask for intervention from your local health department.

While a typical rental contract doesn't impose a lot of obligations on the landlord, in most countries and cities the landlord must provide safe, habitable space.

Keep us posted.

Also search InspectApedia.com for "CRAWLSPACE DRYOUT" for what a building owner might do about a wet crawl space.

On 2022-12-07 by Tammy G

After a week of reporting to landlord the constant sound of running water but couldn't find the source they finally came to check it out. Turned out subpump in crawlspace burned out and was filling with water. It was roughly 6 inches from entering 1st floor of 2 flat.

They had plumber drain water. I was told problem solved. After they left I investigated. Roughly several inches of stagnant water remained and visible mold everywhere. For 3 days I entered crawlspace to take pictures and check status of water. I reported my findings to landlord 1st, 2nd and 3rd day. They resolved the problem by putting a lock on trap door to prevent further access to crawlspace.

Month or so later they had to replace all the sewer pipes (old and crumbling) outside but never went in crawlspace. I can now smell mold/mildew stagnant water. Primary Dr and ENT both say I am apparently very allergic to mold. I have suffered rashes, regular headaches, my sinuses are complete mess.

Obviously moving sounds like the solution however not as easy as that. Inquiring, mentioning, anything related to crawlspace has led to instead of solving the issue I've received a 30 day notice to move. It's freaking December.

Not to mention I get short winded quickly, constant headaches, my eyes hurt, I'm Soooo TIRED all the time, I feel brain fog way too frequently lately. I also had TWO gas leaks several months before crawlspace situation. Basically for several months I was exposed to low levels of carbon monoxide. Those headaches where WICKED.

Again yes moving seems like the solution to all my problems except it's about to be 2023 rentals are hard to find let alone finding something affordable. Idk what options I have

On 2022-10-23 by InspectApedia (Editor) - Sewage in the living space or under it is a serious health hazard

@chrisha hedges,

Sewage in the living space or under it is a serious health hazard.

Contact your board of health to ask for help.

Look also for a legal aid society in the country and city where you live, as a lawyer to help you may thus be available.

On 2022-10-23 by chrisha hedges

I have been renting a house for almost 2 years and the landlord will not fix the problem. I haven't been able to work for the past month and a half because my hands are contaminated and I'm sick from it I need to move but I have no money I need a lawyer please help me

The sewage in the basement snd outside is making ne sick my hands are contaminated

On 2022-11-05 by InspectApedia (Editor) - the landlord is legally required to give you a safe, habitable apartment

@Guadalupe Rosales,

Tell us the city and state and Country Where You Are living. And most locations the landlord is legally required to give you a safe, habitable apartment. If the landlord refuses to respond and you've notified him or her in writing then you might get help from your local health department.

If you can post a photo of the conditions and the address, that public exposure might also motivate the landlord to fix the problem.

On 2022-11-05 by Guadalupe Rosales

Hi my name is Guadalupe Rosales I live with my boyfriend for 2020 to 2021 and 2022 all most 3 years we have a moldey big hole inside the appointment and the landlord gave never fit it nether the carpet that's reping appart and my son be running ge get cut and bleed on his feet

And the fan have a lot of black dust and that make me and my son get sick and I can't breat

On 2022-06-10 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - serious health hazards may result from living with mold

@Aliyah,

Sounds as if you've found the moldy area.

What's needed now is to determine the extent of additional cleaning needed: follow the water, see what got wet.

Remove previously wet drywall, carpet, carpet padding,

Remove the mold
Clean the surfaces
Fix the leak that caused its growth.

Watch out: from your description of personal health concerns, the place where you're living sounds like a serious health hazard. Risks run from developing a mold allergy, developing adult-onset extrinsic allergic asthma from acute mold exposure (that happened to me), or more-serious mold-related illnesses that can come from single acute or even prolonged lesser exposure to mold, airborne spores, MVOCs, and mycotoxins.

It's an error to focus on "black mold"; Harmful molds may be of any color.

Some common indoor molds such as Aspergillus sp. can lead to serious and hard to cure lung infection, Aspergillosis.

Don't panic about this, but also don't ignore it.

Start by a consult with your doctor. Ask if she thinks that your environment could be a serious factor in your health and safety. (It sounds that way to me but we have no objective data).

If you are not old enough or not financially able to live on your own, feel free to show our conversation to your dad and to say, with all due respect, that he may be putting his own health and life safety as well as that of his family all at serious risk.

He should understand that individual's sensitivity to mold varies enormously. One person may see or feel nothing while another can become seriously ill from the same exposure.

On 2022-06-10 by Aliyah - I have had to go the emergency room twice

I have suspected mold for over 6 months growing in my closet. I have been telling my dad and he didn’t seem to worry about it.

I have had a lot of respiratory issues.. now a few weeks ago I had to go to the ER twice.

We now found the mold… news to me my dad left my closet unfinished and water was draining into the floor he said. He ripped out everything and got rid of it immediately so no one could see it. He told me what he found but he will lie to everyone else, and say he didn’t find anything. I bought 2 mold test kits and they all showed mold, and specifically black mold from my closet.

He had mold inspectors come over, he lied to them where he found the black mold in my closet and told them he didn’t see anything! He told me I needed t clean my room.. meanwhile I am struggling to breathe inside. It’s been 4 weeks now, I have been living in a tent in this texas heat… he hasn’t done really anything but clean his own room walls… and the living room.

I start gasping when I go inside, and have asthmatic symptoms. I do not have asthma. I leave the house and within an hour or so all my asthma symptoms go away. When I enter the house within 5 minutes my throat gets sore, I start gasping and feeling dizzy. My bestfriend who lives with us as well, she also gets asthma and sore throat ect.

I don’t think my dad is going to get the house fixed and I don’t know what else to do aside from move, but I am too broke at the moment. I work a full time job but I’m struggling. My dad keeps telling everyone he doesn’t see anything, and he talks to everyone like I am crazy.

I would like to call the health department but I don’t know if they would do anything since you can’t see it. He also said if we want to live without mold, we have to move out.

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 2022-04-20 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - Children sick ie: upper respiratory infections, nose bleeds including a 1 month old baby,

@M FOSSIE,

You need to see your doctor immediately. And you need to follow your doctor's advice.

Your doctor may decide that your home is unsafe to occupy - if so, see

On 2022-04-20 by M FOSSIE

City crossings Apts #710. Black mold in vents. Children sick ie: upper respiratory infections, nose bleeds including a 1 month old baby, I year old boy and 10 year old boy. Stomach cramps, nose bleeds, upper respiratory infections. Have pictures of black mold all around vents .

Called housing, health dept, public safety for neighborhood protection to no avail.

On 2022-03-06 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - Landlord won't respond to mold contamination & cockroaches

@LaMar Gaines,

The two best steps for you to take are

1. find a doctor you trust, discuss your health concerns with her, and trust her advice.

2. ask your local health department for help with mold and other health hazards in your apartment.

We can't guess at how serious those conditions might be from a brief text, but if there is more than 30 square feet of contiguous indoor mold in your apartment, then that area is likely to be unsafe and would require professional mold remediation.

Don't delay in taking these steps as you are describing health worries that leave us concerned for you.

Keep us posted.

On 2022-03-05 by LaMar Gaines

I live at 1424 Woodland Dr Apt 26 Henderson KY.

I have asthma and I have been dealing with black mold and cock roaches my landlord doesn't care about the conditions of my apartment I have trouble breathing wake up with headache and I can't stand the smell. I hope this is enough information


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