FAQs about Health department role in moldy rental apartments or offices:

Questions & answers about how a tenant might get help if a rental home or apartment is unsafe or un-healthy to occupy and if the landlord does not respond to notice of these conditions? Frequently asked questions & answers.

This article series discusses whether or not a tenant should call their local health department officials about a known or suspected health & safety concerns such as a moldy rental apartment, home, or office, how building owners and managers can be expected to react to health department involvement, and when such a call is probably justified.

FAQs on Help for Tenants of Unsafe or Un-Healthy Rental Apartments or Homes

Recently posted questions from occupants, owners, or renters renters about dealing with indoor environmental health and safety concerns - these were posted originally at HEALTH DEPARTMENT HELP for RENTERS - topic home.

Be sure to review the advice in that article.

Mold all over my apartment - now what?

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 - On 2021-10-30 by Maryanne

Reply 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.

check it out

 

Landlord won't fix mold and rodents - need an inspector

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 2021-08-02 by Brandon rosado

Reply 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

I rent an apartment that has become covered in black dust

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 2021-07-22 by T

Reply by danjoefriedman (mod) - contact the department of health but first watch out for fatal carbon monozide poisoning

@T,

You want to find out for yourself if the local health department will help you - give them a call but first

Watch out: if your apartment is heated by gas, and if the gas heater is making soot, there is an immediate life safety risk: fatal carbon monoxide poisoning. Be sure you have working smoke and Carbon Monoxide CO detectors properly located, installed, and tested - or shut off the equpiment right away.

Can the health department check my apartment for mold?

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 2021-06-11 by Sylvia Reyna

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.

Sewage leak in the bathroom - is that a problem?

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 2021-05-15 by Kristen

Reply 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.

Landlord sprays bleach on black mold in my apartment

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 2020-11-26 by Lisa albrecht

Reply 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.

Is water leaking into an apartment unsafe?

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 2020-09-15 by Alan V

Reply by (mod) - black water leaking into apartment raises serious safety and health concerns

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.

Watch out: if water leaks wet electrical switches, receptacles, lights, etc. or even other equipment like a heater, that may be a second set of life-safety hazards.

Watch out: even before those hazards, depending on what gets wet, a floor or stairs can be a serious fall 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.

Maintenance people fixed mold in my apartment then charged me for the repair

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 2020-04-30 by Ebony

Reply 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.

Roach residue in my apartment

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 2020-04-30 by Ebony - On 2020-04-01 by Linda

Reply by (mod) - and ... 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.

Waterford Loop Square apartment sewage leak is unsafe

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 2020-03-24 by Anonymous

Reply 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 2020-03-14 - 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

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:

• Muder, Robert R., Carole Brennen, John D. Rihs, Marilyn M. Wagener, Asia Obman, Asia Obman, Janet E. Stout, and Victor L. Yu. "Isolation of Staphylococcus aureus from the urinary tract: association of isolation with symptomatic urinary tract infection and subsequent staphylococcal bacteremia." Clinical infectious diseases 42, no. 1 (2006): 46-50.
• Lee, Bryan K., Kent Crossley, and Dale N. Gerding. "The association between Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia and bacteriuria." The American journal of medicine 65, no. 2 (1978): 303-306.
• Safdar, Nasia, and Elisa A. Bradley. "The risk of infection after nasal colonization with Staphylococcus aureus." The American journal of medicine 121, no. 4 (2008): 310-315.
• Ando, Eiichi, Koichi Monden, Ritsuko Mitsuhata, Reiko Kariyama, and Hiromi Kumon. "Biofilm formation among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from patients with urinary tract infection." Acta Medica Okayama 58, no. 4 (2004): 207-214.
  

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

• Victoria (VIC) Department of Human Services
• You can contact the Victoria state emergency services help line at 132-5500.
  [The state's website includes a Flood/Storm emergency web page but that address is not functional]
• To speak with a housing and support worker, if you are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Victoria, call 1800 825 955
• If you may need emergency shelter in Victoria, more information on emergency shelter is at Homelessness Services-Victoria AU website.

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

 

 

On 2017-08-19 (mod) - no choice but to ask for help from your health and building department

You may have no choice but to ask for help from your health and building department. Include written notification to your landlord showing photos and text describing conditions you consider unsafe and unhealthy.

On 2017-08-19 Anonymous - no choice but to ask for help from your health and building department

I live in Baltimore. My kitchen ceiling is collapsing due to weather damage and mold. My landlord doesn't care and won't fix the problem...

with every rain the condition gets worse and I'm pretty sure he has paid off city inspectors, as my apt just passed a city inspection.... which is absolutely unbelievable. Do I contact the health dept?

 

On 2017-08-19 (mod) - My kitchen ceiling is collapsing

You may have no choice but to ask for help from your health and building department. Include written notification to your landlord showing photos and text describing conditions you consider unsafe and unhealthy.

On 2017-08-19Anonymous

I live in Baltimore. My kitchen ceiling is collapsing due to weather damage and mold. My landlord doesn't care and won't fix the problem... with every rain the condition gets worse and I'm pretty sure he has paid off city inspectors, as my apt just passed a city inspection.... which is absolutely unbelievable. Do I contact the health dept?

On 2017-08-14 2Anonymous

Owners will not fix the problem!!
Harbor Club South apartmentside
36000 Jefferson apt B208
Harrison Twp,Michigan

On 2017-08-14 Patricia Burlick

Gasses and heating/dryer fumes coming in my apartment window and door wall

On 2017-07-18(mod) - as a last resort you may have to call your health department for assistance with mold or other unhealthy indoor conditions

I suggest calling your health department

On 2017-07-17Lena vigil

I live in a dupext that has mold 3 feet up my walls can I get some one to come out

On 2017-06-30Nicole

I had called them Tennessee a there is no law and I had a premature daughter that had a heart condition have been living here for 10 months now

I've been trying to move but cannot find a place to move into stuck where we're at he did fix the roof leak that have been there since February he fixed less than a month ago do you know any information in Tennessee where I can get free quality of air testing and mold testing I do not have the budget to be able to do the test

On 2017-06-20 1Maddy

So i have mould in my bathroom... Looks like it was covered upprevious landlord. Now its exposed

. I have 2 small children and they were supposed to fix this a month ago and just keep coming up with excuses. Its been six weeks.... What can I do about getting someone in to make sure they do it and do it properly

On 2017-06-07(mod) - apartment is infested with roaches

Liz:

If you have thoroughly cleaned your home and removed all open food, and have made double sure that any stored food is in closed, secure containers, you've removed the roach-attractants over which you have control.

I have seen roach infestations in walls and coming out of openings in apartments that were immaculate; for those a professional exterminator is an effective step but in my OPINION if neighbors don't clean and secure food the same as you, it's difficult to control the roach problem without regular treatments of all of the spacesa licensed professional.

You can ask for help from your health department.

If you want to break your lease, you need to review the lease terms with an attorney or with a legal aid service first.

On 2017-06-07 Liz

What do i do if my apartment is infested with roaches and they've already sprayed the apartment 3 times and still no luck its gotten worst since i can eat have food in the house!!?? Help please i just want out of my lease .

On 2017-04-24 (mod) - Can we legally get our landlord to pay for moving expenses and damaged property due to mold

That is a fair question, but not one that I can answer. You'll need to ask an attorney. Bring a copy of your lease to that attorney when you ask.

On 2017-04-23 0Nancy Stockholm

Can we legally get our landlord to pay for moving expenses and damaged property due to mold we he tells us we have to move out of our recent trailer to another one

He has known about mold in here for atleast 8 months maybe longer

On 2017-04-12(mod) - when is expert mold cleanup needed for a rental apartment?

Kim

IF the total area of mold contamination in your home is more than 30 sq.ft. of contiguous mold in area then professional cleaning would be needed AND cleaning of contents might be needed in the process of moving if you do need to move. You'll need to review the terms of your lease with an attorney.

On 2017-04-12kim

i have mold on walls n basement windows in my apartment how do i get out of my lease

On 2017-04-12 0(mod) - a failing structure is unsafe

Anonymous:

Fundamental structural support to prevent the home from moving is absolutely essential for safety: pulling a wire or gas line or sewer line can be dangerous, even worse, causing fire or injury.

Unfortunately if the property owner won't agree to fix very basic structural and safety concerns that are clearly ones requiring an expert, you may have no choice but to take your lease to an attorney for a consult to find out just what the lease provides. Landlords, depending on where you live, may not required to do muchway of maintenance, but most leases require that the property being rented be safe and habitable.

From what you describe it sounds to me as if yours is not.

On 2017-04-11Anonymous

I live in a mobile home...when we moved in lanlord told us we had to fix whatever minor things needed to be fixed....

well only thing is our trailer is unstable is constantly shiffting and in one of the bedrooms the floor has a hole i don't know what I need to be done and she's constantly charging late fees and extra on our rent I just need some kind of advice on how to handle this..

On 2017-02-18(mod) - when to ask for interventionyour building department or health department

Anon,

If your landlord does not respond to building damage, health, and safety concerns for what you describe as a home that cannot be safely lived-in, you will probably have to ask for help from your local health department or from an attorney. Check out the advice in the article above and let me know what further questions you have.

On 2017-02-18 Anonymous

I noticed a rusty colour in the hot water and contacted agent plumbing guy came out and basically said its stuffed but it may fully break in a week or 6 months and told the landlord to get a new system put in. They never did anything until I was away got home roof caved in water. Every where now mould is growing.

Assessors came out both said that the property is unliveable We have kept paying full rent, leaving messages to estate agent and sometimes days to get back all in all we don't know what to do PLEASE HELP

On 2017-02-18(mod) - what to do after the roof caved in and the home has been flooded and become moldy

Anon,

If your landlord does not respond to building damage, health, and safety concerns for what you describe as a home that cannot be safely lived-in, you will probably have to ask for help from your local health department or from an attorney. Check out the advice in the article above and let me know what further questions you have.

On 2017-02-18 Anonymous

I noticed a rusty colour in the hot water and contacted agent plumbing guy came out and basically said its stuffed but it may fully break in a week or 6 months and told the landlord to get a new system put in. They never did anything until I was away got home roof caved in water.

Every where now mould is growing. Assessors came out both said that the property is unliveable We have kept paying full rent, leaving messages to estate agent and sometimes days to get back all in all we don't know what to do PLEASE HELP

On 2016-03-31(mod) If there is more than 30 sq.ft. of contiguous indoor mold in your home

Anon:

If there is more than 30 sq.ft. of contiguous indoor mold in your home

1. it requires professional cleaning

2. it is most-likely not a healthy environment

If the landlord is not responding to a probably or known-unsafe condition, in the article lilnks just above see TENANT HELP for MOLDY RENTAL

On 2016-03-31 Anonymous

I am a renter and have told and showen the landlord the leaks and mold in the basement.He keeps saying in the spring or clean up the room and he will take care of it and never dose.

Have no extra money to put in this house that l rent.What can l do now?

On 2016-01-16 2 6(mod)

Anon, my best suggestions are inHEALTH DEPARTMENT HELP for RENTERS. Perhaps you should ask your health department to inspect your home and give you advice on whether it is safe to occupy.

On 2016-01-16 Anonymous

The house Iam living in the floors are seperating from the walls there is black mold on all the walls all the time the roof leaks the is suage drainage under the house we have said somethinfg to the land lord an he informed us that if he fixes the hpuse he will be rasing our rent up.

what can we do because we live on a fixwd income of 1082 a month now an pay him 350 a month as it is. we are 75. 00 behind because of medical reasons but are trying to get that caught up.

On 2015-11-14(mod)

Certainly I agree with the cleaning company. You'll need to ask for help from your health department

On 2015-11-13Anonymous

The septic tank in our rental house has backed up into the basement, as far as I can tell no solids have come thru yet but the cleaning crew has informed me that normally they would remove any carpet or drywall that has been soaked but the homeowners insurance doesn't cover this so the homeowner asked them to just clean the area.

I'd like to know what the laws pertaining to this are and if just cleaning the carpet and drywall is enough to sanitize the area. The backup has been going on almost a week before the real problem was discovered and the entire house has smelled like suage for 3 days now.

I have bad lungs and am worried about the health effects. Thank you

On 2015-11-04 (mod)

Elaine:

Please take a look at the article suggstions at HEALTH DEPARTMENT HELP for RENTERS and at the end of that article, as those form my best advice, particularly about notifying in-writing and if necessary involving local health or code officials.

Separeately, no honest expert could nor would pretend she could diagnose and prescribe exactly what is needed in the apartment based on a brief e-text/.

On 2015-11-03Elaine Carrillo

This is an urgent plea for advice/action: My 19 year old daughter and her 20 year old room-mate are living in a mold-infested apartment in quite a nice area of Houston (Winrock/Westheimer). From the day they moved in (late May 2015) anytime it rains they have had to deal with water coming in through the closets.

The management has been impossible to deal with. They made one lame effort to fix the damage about a month ago but as evidencedrecent rains, it did absolutely no good. A few days ago it flooded again and now the management is ignoring their pleas for clean-up/repair.

These young renters are being completely ignored. I want to help them resolve this issue and am very concerned about their health, but I need advice/action to address this problem immediately. The tenants have already had mold samples tested and the results were positive. PLEASE HELP US!

On 2015-03-13 (mod) there is mold black mold all over the walls

In my opinion if your description is accurate, the apartment was probably unsafe and you should not have stayed in it.

Whether or not the landlord was obligated to give you another apartment may depend on rental
Was where you live, your lease terms, and so on advice of an attorney.

The article above has some suggestions for action.

On 2015-03-12Anonymous

i have recently moved into an apt and there is mold black mold all over the walls so i went to the lanlord and three days later i received a eviction notice what can i do in spokane wa

Question:

(Apr 24, 2014) 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:

Anon: 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:

(May 21, 2014) Anonymous said:

Hi,i leave in over 130 year old house. we have had roof leak as parts of ceiling became wet. landlord fixed the leak and said the ceiling and loft will dry out. i just noticed lots of black spots coming thru the ceiling. landlord said just paint them over with anti damp paint.

my son has got asthma and is damp,dast allergy.im wondering if i should leave it and the damp will go away cos is no more leak or there will be still damp issue. the ceiling (made old method-lots of wooden sticks) is coveredplaster which is getting crack etc.

Reply:

The "old wooden sticks and plaster" construction you describe, while certainly not mold *proof* is somewhat more resistant to mold growth.

But If the wet ceiling assembly (not just the plaster) includes mold-friendly materials such as insulation, drywall, wood, paint, wallpaper, then leaving it wet invites mold contamination.

Question:

8/18/14 concerned relative said:

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.

Reply:

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 contamiantion) that can be handleda handyman, or a large one (more than 30 sqft) that required professional treatment.

...

Continue reading at HEALTH DEPARTMENT HELP for RENTERS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• RENTERS & TENANTS ADVICE for UNSAFE or UNHEALTHY HOME
  • HEALTH DEPARTMENT HELP for RENTERS
  • HIDDEN MOLD RISKS for RENTERS
  • HOUSING, EMERGENCY & TEMPORARY
  • LEGAL AID ATTORNEY HELP SOURCES
  • MOLD ACTION ADVICE for RENTERS
  • MOLD CONTAMINATION CAUSES
  • MOLD HEALTH RISKS for TENANTS
  • MOLD SAFETY ADVICE for TENANTS
  • MOLD ADVICE for BUILDING MANAGERS
  • TENANT HELP for MOLDY RENTAL
  • TENANT LANDLORD MOLD DISPUTE
  • UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT, CAN'T LEAVE - what if you have to continue to live in a moldy apartment or rental home?

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HEALTH DEPARTMENT HELP for RENTERS FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING SAFETY

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